Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The homeless crisis continues to spiral out of control. Every day families with children and single people continue to present as homeless. Rising rents, increased repossessions and the lack of social housing are forcing scores of adults and hundreds of children out of their homes. Following the tragic death of Mr. Jonathan Corrie in December, the Government Press Office went into overdrive in announcing measures which it was stated would stem the crisis. Today we learn that despite the provision in Dublin of an additional 300 emergency beds, there is still no spare capacity. Some 1,692 adults were sleeping in emergency accommodation in Dublin on New Year's Eve, the highest number in years. The problem is now so bad that there is a waiting list for family emergency accommodation in Dublin. As many as 80 families, with hundreds of children, are waiting to be placed in emergency accommodation, some of whom have been waiting for accommodation for months. In some cases, they have been forced to squat in homes when their notice to quit expired. They are being forced to sleep in cars or split up for days, weeks or months, with children being separated from their parents. They are being forced into low threshold hostels or hotel rooms, which environments are totally unsuited to children.

Despite all of the Government's high profile announcements, it is failing to stem the flow of families into homelessness. What families at risk of homelessness want to know is when will rent controls be introduced. When will adequate emergency accommodation be provided, including family accommodation, for those who are homeless? When will the Government start to release the promised funding for local authorities to commence construction of the homes that communities so desperately need?

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