Record numbers of people homeless
A record number of people in the West are homeless.
The Simon Community has expressed grave concern as 2024 began with record numbers of people experiencing homelessness in the West.
The latest figures published by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government report a record 630 people staying in emergency accommodation in counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in December 2023.
The figure represents a 17% increase on the number of people in emergency accommodation in the West in December 2022.
The Simon Community says the worsening numbers reflect the ongoing housing crisis, with slow delivery of social housing, landlords leaving the private rent market, and the lifting of the moratorium on evictions last year all factors in the rise in the number of people who are homeless.
A total 92 people in Mayo found themselves without a place to call home during Christmas week.
Galway Simon Community CEO Karen Golden said that it is very distressing to see record numbers of homeless people.
"We have to remember that behind these numbers are men, women and children whose lives have been put on hold and who are suffering the trauma of homelessness."
She pointed to rising rents as one of the factors with landlords continuing to exit the private rental market.
