More than 60 children across Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo are currently homeless and face Christmas in emergency accommodation. The figures were revealed by Focus Ireland as the charity renewed its Christmas Appeal following publication of the most recent Department of Housing Homelessness Report.
The report also shows that 177 adults are currently living in emergency accommodation in the North West region, while 35 families face Christmas without a home. A record number of 5,274 children are now homeless across Ireland.
Acclaimed Irish actor, writer and social justice advocate, Emmet Kirwan, has lent his voice to Focus Ireland’s Christmas Appeal and ‘No Child Without A Home’ campaign. He said it is “a collective failure of policy and the political system” that thousands of children across Ireland will spend Christmas without a place to call home.
Commenting, Emmet Kirwan said: “No child should spend even one Christmas without a safe place to call home — let alone their second or third. Child homelessness is entirely preventable. We saw numbers fall during the eviction ban, and then rise when it ended, proving that political choices make a real difference. It is shameful that successive Governments have allowed this crisis to deepen. Homelessness, having reached this level, was something that was entirely preventable and it’s essentially due to political failure.
“I’m proud to work with Focus Ireland because they not only support families facing homelessness but they also prevent people from entering homelessness; they provide housing and fight for real solutions to end homelessness. I’m asking people to support Focus Ireland by giving what they can this Christmas and to join me in signing the petition calling for Government action to end child homelessness — because every child deserves a place to call home.”
Focus Ireland said it is totally unacceptable that 5,274 children are now homeless across Ireland — the highest number ever recorded — with many children facing their second or third Christmas in emergency accommodation. Shockingly, the number of children who are now homeless in Ireland has risen by 135% in the last four years.
Founded 40 years ago this year by Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy who passed away last month, Focus Ireland is urging the public to support its Christmas Appeal and to sign its petition calling on the Government to act on its Five-Point Plan to End Child Homelessness for good.
Last year Focus Ireland supported 4,500 children in 2,053 families who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. So far this year, the charity has supported 87 families in the North West and helped 190 families, with 419 children, out of homelessness across Ireland, in partnership with its supporters and the State.
Focus Ireland’s ‘No Child Without A Home’ campaign highlights the hidden impact and long-term harm of homelessness on children — from lost education to emotional trauma and developmental impacts, while also lobbying the Government and providing solutions to end homelessness. The charity’s five point action plan asks the Government to stop no fault evictions, stop families being evicted because of unaffordable rents, build enough of the right homes in the right places, prioritise long term homeless families for social housing and protect children by putting their needs and interests first.
CEO of Focus Ireland, Pat Dennigan said: “As we face another Christmas with thousands of children without a home, one thing is absolutely clear: homelessness is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices and is entirely preventable. That’s why we’re asking the public to stand with us by donating to Focus Ireland, to help us deliver our services and by demanding change from the Government through our petition. With political will and public support we can help families rebuild their lives and end homelessness for good.”
Last year Focus Ireland supported a total of more than 18,000 people across the country who were experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The charity aims to raise vital funds for homelessness services through its Christmas Appeal. Donations will go directly towards supporting families facing homelessness, providing emergency accommodation, housing advice, and long-term housing solutions.
Concluding, Pat Dennigan said: “This Christmas, you can make a difference. Join us and help end child homelessness for good.”
To donate or to find out more about Focus Ireland’s Christmas Appeal and No Child Without a Home campaign please visit www.focusireland.ie
