One Galway charity alone dealt with just under 1,000 people who became homeless last year – and, with Christmas on the way, many charities in the sector are warning that the crisis is just deepening across all sectors.
Last year COPE Galway worked with 652 adults and their 311 children affected by homelessness in Galway.
They also reported being “unable to accommodate 227 women and 280 children who requested refuge due to lack of space”.
COPE works with almost 200 households experiencing homelessness; 45 families are in critical housing situations, 22 families (with 53 children) are in emergency accommodation and a further 18 are on ‘Notice to Quit’ from their current abode.
And it’s not just COPE feeling the pressure; Focus Ireland revealed that “over 450 families became homeless last year, including over 1,000 children”.
The Simon Community says that “being homeless is more than about being without a roof over your head; it’s about a lack of security, lack of belonging, lack of privacy and lack of safety.”
Charities working to combat homelessness say urgent steps are needed to improve access to affordable accommodation. They call for a focus on prevention and for keeping people in their homes.
The gap between rent and rent supplements poses the largest threat to people for losing their homes.
In 2013 there was a national rent increase of 11%, and nearly 10% in 2014. Yet these inflated figures are not reflected in rent supplements. For many, the rent hike is proving to be ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back.’
Evidence-based medical reports on the correlation between mental health and substance abuse reveal that over 50% of people suffering with mental health difficulties will develop problems with drugs or alcohol.
‘Dual diagnosis’ is a term used to describe people who have mental health problems as well as addiction to drugs or alcohol.
COPE Galway recently proposed an initiative to alleviate the housing crisis by calling on landlords to make properties available for rent, within current rental accommodation scheme (RAS) and rent supplement levels.
“A landlord willing to forego and extra income of €200 per month could provide a house for a family facing homelessness, while continuing to receive a RAS rental income of €850 per month (based on an average three-bed house) and COPE will offer support for the tenants as needed,” said Jacquie Horan, CEO of COPE Galway.
The charity is committed to bringing 16 housing units on stream.
“We want eight homes to be provided for rent by local investors and landlords who wish to contribute to solving the housing shortage crisis by supporting the organisation. A further eight are being provided via direct purchase.”
“At this stage we have to get practical. It’s about taking small steps toward an ultimate solution to the housing crisis,” said the charity’s CEO.
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