Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has slammed the government over its failing housing policy and the growing number of children and families living in emergency accommodation. The Sinn Féin TD said newly released figures show that the government has failed to get to grips with the causes of homelessness and that the housing crisis is getting worse.

The comment comes as the Department of Housing released the official homeless figures for August which show another increase in homelessness in Dublin and across the state. 10,338 people are now living in emergency accommodation, which includes 3,848 children.

Deputy Crowe said:

“The figures published this morning by the Department of Housing show an increase in the number of children growing up in emergency accommodation in Dublin.

“In August there were 2,850 children in Department of Housing funded emergency accommodation in the Dublin area. 1,280 families were accessing emergency accommodation in Dublin in August.

“For the seventh month in a row the number of people officially classified as homeless across this state has remained above 10,000 with a total of 10,338.

“These figures do not provide the full picture and do not include women and children in domestic violence shelters funded by Tulsa, adults and children in hostels not funded by government departments, rough sleepers, and those still living in Direct Provision despite having secured their leave to remain. Rents are at an all time high and are beyond the ability for most people on average income to afford.

“We need to stop these families becoming homeless and with the Budget coming up Minister Murphy and his counterparts in Fianna Fáil has the opportunity to demand more resources to build more public houses.

“Sinn Féin has called for an increase in investment in social and affordable homes built on public land and a faster delivery time for these homes.

“We are calling on both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to drop their opposition to the Focus Ireland amendment as this is the best way to keep families from becoming homeless as it restricts the landlord’s ability to seek vacant possession notices to quit.

“The government and those who support them cannot plead ignorance of the homeless crisis as it is their own figures that show a continued rise in families and children trapped in homelessness.”

ENDS