Thousands At Tipping Point Between Home And Homelessness

Tuesday, 8 February 2022 12:46

By Caoimhe Harney

According to leading charities

An Oireachtas Committee will be warned thousands are at a tipping point between a home and homelessness.

Charities such as Focus Ireland, Novas and the Simon Communities will all speak before the Housing Committee on a variety of issues.

They include how spiralling rent and cost of living is leading to many families struggling to make ends meet.

The Committee will also hear how rent increases and rising cost of living is putting a strain on families.

It will also hear that inspections of the homeless accomodation, which were suspended during the pandemic, have yet to continue.

Meanwhile the charity Novas will share harrowing details of the plight many homeless women are facing.

Dr Una Burns from the charity has also said there are staggering levels of self-harm and suicide.

Another charity, Mendicity, will tell the committee that 90 out of 93 survey respondents had experienced assault or theft while staying in emergency accomodation.

Head of Communications at The Simon Community, Wayne Stanley: "Many people are caught in the trauma of homelessness.

"Past trauma and underlying conditions such as mental health or addiction can exastberate this.

"We need work closely with our colleagues in the HSE to stop people becoming homeless," he insisted.

"We found children who experience homelessness with their family are more likely to experience homelessness later on life," he added.

Wayne Stanley spoke with KFM's Ciara Noble on Tuesday's Kildare Focus:

Head of Advocacy with Focus Ireland, Mike Allen, says many landlords are trying to leave the market also, which will only bring down housing supply:

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