Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that it is increasing year-on-year but over 40,000 people are accessing emergency accommodation, and that does not account for everyone who is homeless currently. That is 2,099 families and 4,419 children, which is an increase of 14% from last year. In one year, from August of last year to this year, 1,795 additional people entered emergency accommodation. We know the Simon Community’s recent report, Locked Out of the Market, raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing and that this is forcing families and single people into homelessness, and for longer. That was the most damning thing that came across in the report. There are very few opportunities to secure a home. In County Clare, over 75% are in need of one and two-bedroom properties and nearly 2,900 are on the housing list currently.

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