Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has described the unprecedented record high of homelessness across the State as appalling and has called on the Minister for Housing, Eoghan Murphy, to resign. The January homeless figures published this week show the number of people officially classed as homeless by the Department of Housing has reached a high of 9,987.

Deputy Seán Crowe said

“The Department of Housing’s monthly figures show that the number of people officially classed as homeless by the Department of Housing in January has reached an unprecedented high of 9,987.

“This is an increase of 234 people on the December 2018, including an increase of 65 children and 169 adults.

“The number of children sleeping in hotel rooms and hubs has reached 3,624, an increase of 11% in one year.

“Last month Minister Murphy claimed that the traditional seasonal drop in homelessness was evidence of his housing plan somehow working. These latest figures show that he is delusional and not delivering for the homeless, those on longer and longer Local Authority housing lists, or those reliant on the goodwill of their landlord.  Rebuilding Ireland is not delivering for some of the most vulnerable individuals and families.

“The Minister has called the figures disappointing, but the figures reinforce a sense of hopelessness in all those trapped in homelessness or insecure accommodation.

“Since Eoghan Murphy became the Minister for Housing homelessness has increased by a whopping 26%. He is failing and he must step aside and resign.

“The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland plan is not delivering. We need a plan that will deliver more housing, deal with the chronic shortage of affordable and social housing, create security of tenure, and prioritise ending the homeless crisis.”

ENDS