Government Efforts To Tackle Homeless Numbers “Don’t Go Far Enough”

Midwest Simon says it believes Government efforts to tackle homelessness here don’t go far enough.

It comes as the latest figures show homeless numbers in Clare continued on an upwards curve in March, while nationally the figures have hit another record high.

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The Department of Housing’s homelessness report for March shows that since February, the number of homeless people in the Midwest has dropped by just two to 347.

But despite this, numbers in Clare have continued to rise – 75 adults were without a permanent home at the end of March, up from 70 a month earlier.

There were also 146 children living in emergency accommodation in Clare and Limerick during that period; a jump of 35% jump in a year.

General Manager of Midwest Simon Jackie Bonfield has acknowledged that Government measures introduced so far are working, but she says they don’t go far enough.

Nationally, homeless figures surpassed 10,300 last month prompting calls for for stronger tenant protections.

Labour’s Housing Spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan says the biggest increase related to children.

But the Junior Housing Minister insists the government is prioritising measures aimed at tackling the crisis.

Damien English admits there’s more to do to increase the supply of houses, but he says they are implementing measures to stop people from becoming homeless in the first place.