More than 10,000 people are homeless for the fifth month in a row, it emerged yesterday.
The stark figures for June include 3,675 children who are living in emergency accommodation
The latest poll shows 81 people less than May’s total and the 1,686 families are 14 fewer than the previous figures.
Defending the figures, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said: “This is the third month in a row the number of children in emergency accommodation has fallen.
“The number of families and children in emergency accommodation is now lower than this time last year. There is still a lot more work to do.”
However, there was scathing criticism from opposition parties and charities.
Sinn Fein’s Eoin O Broin said: “This is the fifth month in a row the total number of people officially classified as homeless by the Department of Housing has been in excess of 10,000.
“This shows once again the Government’s response to the homeless crisis is failing. We support Focus Ireland’s call for the Government to urgently review its policies aimed at tackling the homelessness crisis.”
Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice spokesman Peter McVerry said: “The figure of 10,000 has become an accepted number in the normalisation of homelessness as collective moral outrage is waning.
"It would be some solace if the number was accurate. For the figure to not include those sleeping rough, those in domestic violence refuges, or people in direct provision who have been granted status reveals the careful calculation in producing this number.”
Fianna Fail housing spokesman Darragh O’Brien described the figures as “disgraceful”.
He said: “The Government must ask itself how it can possibly meet the demand for housing when the scale of development in affordable and public housing that’s required is simply not happening?”
