The Government has been slammed as the homeless figures for July show that a further 103 children were added to the list.
More than 10,000 people across the country remain homeless according to Department of Housing figures – nearly 4,000 of those are children.
Homeless groups across Dublin, including Inner City Helping Homeless have seen a huge jump in the number of people being support nightly on the streets of the capital.
The Government has also been slammed for not building enough homes across the country to meet demand.
ICHH CEO Anthony Flynn said: “While we had seen a slight decline in numbers the previous two months this was clearly a false dawn.
“The number of homeless adults remains unchanged however a further 103 children became homeless in July. That nearly 4,000 children don’t have proper homes is a sad indictment of modern Ireland.
“Our outreach teams have also reported a huge increase in the number of people being supported nightly around the streets of Dublin. Last week we saw our highest ever one nightly total as our teams assisted 238 people and provided as many supports as possible.
“We have also seen an increase of 28% in the number of people sleeping in tents rather than entering state funded emergency hostels.”
Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan said: “These latest figures make for grim reading and show that not only has the homelessness crisis not gone away, it is getting worse, and Government policy is failing to resolve it.
“The simple fact remains that the Government is still not building enough homes, which in turn continues to heap pressure on the already inflated rental sector.
“The Government has now had three years to turn this crisis around and get building, but the figures are just getting worse.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy added: “These children and their families are being most abysmally failed by this government.
“Many children are starting new school terms living in hotel rooms and so-called ‘family hubs,’ and will have to endure enormous stress, hardship and stigma on a daily basis.
“This is a housing emergency brought on by government policy, and the sluggish pace of the government’s response is just not good enough.
“Where is the urgency to construct social and affordable housing on a massive scale, to tackle land hoarding and to put in place comprehensive measures to help people struggling with sky-rocketing rents?”
Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO said: “We are disappointed at the increase in the number of children experiencing homelessness in July, adding over another one hundred children to the thousands who remained in cramped emergency accommodation all summer long and who will have experienced serious levels of stress and discomfort.
“The start of the school year will, I hope, provide some relief to those children. Every month children remain in unsuitable living conditions will have an impact on their physical development and emotional state – with long term repercussions.
“I strongly urge the Government to redouble their efforts to ensure that the trauma of homelessness is not inflicted on more families."
