Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, responding to the shock figures released by the Simon Community in their yearly report, said that it backs up what many of us are seeing on daily basis in shop doorways and vacant sites right across Dublin.

The Simon Report said that the number of people sleeping rough on the streets of inner city Dublin has increased by 88% since last year.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“An 88% increase in rough sleepers would mean the end of the career of the Housing Minister in any other democracy.

“The Government mantra is that it will end long term homelessness by 2016, but not even their most ardent and gullible supporter believes that this will happen. These figures have to lead all reasonably people to seriously question the Government’s commitment to its promise.

“The need for accommodation and assistance for those with nowhere to go, and whose everyday life has become harsh and dangerous, is at the highest we have ever seen.

“Only this week I was given a report by residents of Springfield in Tallaght of a man living in hedging at the side of the road in the area.

“What is equally worrying is that many people who are accessing emergency accommodation are not receiving the accommodation they urgently require.

“Limited emergency accommodations, a housing shortage in Dublin, rent increases, and rent allowance restrictions, are all adding to the intolerable conditions that are forcing more and more people into homelessness and onto the streets.

“The Simon Report found that 85 people were sleeping rough over the course of one night in September and have warned that figure could be much higher as its early morning counts do not include the so-called ‘hidden homeless’; those who stay in hospitals, internet cafes, and squats.

“The numbers of those bedded down in the inner city centre – between Jervis Street, Amien Street and Harcourt Street – have also increased by 66% in the first six months of this year.

“Many of the homeless from this constituency head towards the inner city as that is where the majority of services are located.

“Simon’s report details that the organisation’s rough sleeper team had made contact with 4,271 people, distributed 22,700 sandwiches and hot drinks to people on the street in one year.

“Another worrying figure is that more than 40% of those who are accessing Simon’s emergency service had been homeless for more than five years.

“Providing suitable housing has to become a political priority. This report highlights in black and white the issue of homelessness, and the crying need to address the housing crisis that is growing on a daily basis, particularly in Dublin.

“The added worry is that even though the homeless sector has already absorbed massive financial reductions, many homeless charities are expecting further cuts in next month’s budget.”

ENDS