THE number of people recorded as being homeless in Donegal has risen by ten per cent, according to the latest report from the Department of Housing.
The monthly report for November shows 62 people were homeless in the county up from 56 the previous month.
Across the north west 144 adults needed assistance from local authorities in the region, 97 males and 47 females. The majority of these were aged between 25 and 44 (82) while there were eight people over the age of 65 recorded as homeless in the north west between November 20 and 26.
There were fifteen families homeless across the north west including 33 children.
Nationally there were 13,514 people including 4,105 children and 193 senior citizens in Department of Housing funded emergency accommodation.
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said tackling the issue of homelessness is a Government priority.
He said: “Those without a home remain the top priority for this Government. 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 and we have been clear that there will be no obstacle in funding much needed services.”
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin TD has said that ‘rising levels of homelessness is further evidence that the Government’s housing plan is failing.’
“Once again, this Government has broken all records for officially recognised homelessness,” he said.
“It is now clear that the longer Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in office the worse the housing and homelessness crisis will get.
“Only with a change of Government and a change of housing plan, with a real focus on ending homelessness, can we start to undo the damage of decades of bad Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael housing policy.”
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