Current homeless demographics differ from the past because figures used to represent individuals in emergency accomodation and those sleeping rough. Not so of late. The incidence of those having to sleep rough and the way they have been treated by the homeless executive is Ireland’s shame. The unacceptable situation of rough sleepers will hopefully be eased by the covid 19 crisis.
With regard to government figures, only about those living in emergency accomodation, about 60% of homeless children are reported to live in hotels and bed & breakfast accomodation. No figures for adults. This inspite of an as called self imposed government deadline promising to end the practice almost three years ago. Major problems perceived to be a lack of cooking and laundry facilities.
According to a recent report there are 540 more homeless people as of this year. The long term problem of little availability of accomodation of a reasonable standard has not been addressed. Other problems were little or no information on what an individual on rent supplement can afford, tennant’s rights going unnoticed because the landlord takes precedence and landlords continuing to rent out sub standard accomodation.
Substandard accomodation can also apply to social housing, mainly termed as emergency accomodation. Tennants needs are often not addressed amongst pressure to avail of what is passed off as emergency housing, rather than being brought up to standard.