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The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today (26 July 2024) published the Monthly Homeless Report for June 2024 and the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 2 2024.
The Monthly Homeless Report for June 2024 shows that 14,303 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation, an increase of 144 (1%) on May 2024. There were 9,899 single adults and 2,093 families in emergency accommodation in June, including 4,404 children under 18.
The report shows that during Q2 2024, a total of 630 households, including 786 adults and 259 families, exited homelessness. This represents an increase of 9.4% in household exits, an increase of 13.9% in adult exits, and an increase of 25.1% in family exits compared to Q2 2023.
Additionally, 988 households, including 1,276 adults and 522 families, were prevented from entering homelessness in Q2 2024. This represents an increase of 41.5% in household preventions, an increase of 44.7% on adult preventions, and an increase of 48.3% in family preventions on Q2 2023.
The Quarterly Progress report also shows the number of new families presenting to homeless services and the numbers entering and exiting emergency accommodation on a national basis. 972 families presented to emergency accommodation in the quarter. 522 families were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy having been created. 259 families also exited emergency accommodation during the quarter.
The Quarterly Report also shows that 45% of single households accessing emergency accommodation have been in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months (2,851 of 6,324 single households).
The report also shows progress in implementing the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026, a key response to ending long-term homelessness among those with complex health and mental health needs. The Housing First Programme provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life as well as with key wraparound health and social supports.
A total of 67 new supported tenancies commenced in Q2 2024. Through the programme, there are 1,031 high-support need individuals, who were formerly rough sleepers or long-term users of emergency accommodation, housed and supported in their own homes. 683 new Housing First tenancies have been created since the beginning of the current implementation plan.
The Department also today published the Youth Homeless Strategy 18 month Progress Report which details the Supported Housing for Youth (SHY) pilot project. The pilot, which will launch this summer, will see the first young people moving from emergency accommodation to their own accommodation with wraparound supports.
Commenting on the reports published today, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:
“The June 2024 Monthly Homeless Report unfortunately records a further increase in the number of individuals accessing emergency accommodation. Supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a top priority for this Government. My Department continues to work closely with local authorities and their service delivery partners in the provision of this support to enable households to secure an exit to a tenancy or to avoid entering emergency accommodation in the first place.
“Increasing the supply of housing is critical to address homelessness. This Government has made record levels of investment available under Housing for All to support the delivery of housing. In 2024, over €5bn in investment is available to support the delivery of housing. My Department is making funding of €242 million available for the delivery of homeless services in 2024 – a 12.6% increase on the Budget 2023 allocation. The recently published ‘Housing for All Q2 2024 Progress Report’ noted the continued strong momentum in the delivery of homes across the country and reports that building started on over 32,000 new homes in the first five months of 2024. Over 25,000 new social homes are at various stages of design and construction.
“The Quarterly 2 2024 Homeless Progress Report illustrates the significant progress made in preventing individuals and families entering homelessness. The 988 households, including 1,276 adults and 522 families, prevented from entering homelessness in Q2 2024 represent an increase of 41.5% in household preventions, an increase of 44.7% on adult preventions, and an increase of 48.3% in family preventions on Q2 2023.
“The Progress Report also records a total of 630 households, including 786 adults and 259 families, exiting homelessness in the quarter. These figures are significant and welcome increases on the same quarter in 2023: an increase of 9.4% in household exits; an increase of 13.9% in adult exits, and an increase of 25.1% in family exits.
“My Department and this Government recognise the significant and complex impacts of homelessness on individuals and families and will continue to focus our efforts on preventing homelessness in the first instance and on reducing the numbers of homeless individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the second instance.”
ENDS