The public has been left stunned by Ireland’s current homeless crisis. More and more families are losing their homes, and have no choice but to reside in temporary accommodation including hotels and the spare rooms of their family member’s homes.

 

Unfortunately, despite the government's efforts, the number of homeless children in Ireland has risen. The Department of Housing revealed that there nearly 10,000 homeless people in Ireland, with 3,755 children living in emergency accommodation.

 

 

Barnardos have expressed their horror at these figures, with June Tinsley, head of advocacy at the children’s charity, saying, “This is the largest jump in child homelessness in a single month we have seen in two years. With the cost of rent continuing to rise across the country, it is unsurprising more families find themselves unable to afford market rents and end up experiencing homelessness as a result.”

 

She added, “Families remain trapped in homeless accommodation for long periods as there is nowhere affordable to move onto.”


The number of children living in emergency accommodation has increased by 47 percent since this time last year. The horrifying figures have resulted in Barnardos pleading with the government to do more for these struggling families.

 


“The Government must accept that their current strategies aren’t working and take action to stem the tide of child homelessness. Greater preventative measures such as rent certainty and security of tenure must be implemented as an emergency response,” said June Tinsley.
 

There are currently 1,739 families registered as homeless in Ireland, “These children are living in emergency accommodation without the space they need to live, play and grow.”

 

It is time for a drastic change, “No child should worry about whether they will wake up in the same bed tomorrow as they did today. We launched our Lost Childhood campaign because enough is enough,” June Tinsley stressed.

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