Homelessness rises again as government set to restrict access to homeless prevention scheme – Eoin Ó Broin TD

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has today asked: “How high will Minister for Housing James Browne let homelessness go?”

The Dublin Mid-West TD’s comments were made as the latest Department of Housing homeless report shows yet another rise in the numbers of adults and children in emergency homeless accommodation.

The report is published as the Government moves to restrict access to a key homeless prevention support, the tenant-in-situ scheme.

Teachta Ó Broin said:

“The homeless report published by the Department of Housing shows yet another rise in adult and child homelessness. In February there were 15,378 people, including 4,653 children, in the Department of Housing emergency accommodation.

“Since Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been in government together homelessness has risen year on year.

“Simon Coveney presided over a 29% in homelessness and a 36% increase in child homelessness. Eoghan Murphy’s tenure saw homelessness jump by 27% and child homelessness by 22%.

“Darragh O’Brien had the worst record to date seeing homelessness reach record levels with a 70% increase in both homelessness and child homelessness during his term of office.

“The big question for the new Minister for Housing James Browne is how high will he allow homelessness to go?

“This week, the Department of Housing is expected to inform councils of funding cuts and new restrictions on the operation of a vital homeless prevention support, the social housing tenant-in-situ scheme.

“If Minister Browne proceeds with these changes even more people will be presenting to homelessness services in the coming months.

“Homelessness is at crisis levels. This is an emergency. We need an emergency response as repeatedly set out by Sinn Féin and others. Instead it appears the government intends to actually make things worse.”