As the recession bites, the demand for emergency accommodation is on the increase
A new emergency accommodation centre for the homeless was opened in Athlone this morning. However, the Simon Community who are running the service, and others like them say they are facing a 25 per cent increase in the demand for beds.
The government target of ending long-term homelessness by 2010 has been seriously challenged by many.
There are hundreds of people living in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation. To tackle the problem, the housing minister Michael Finneran said that 300 houses will be leased by the state to provide accommodation to those in need. The minister wants to bring an end to people living for long periods in temporary accommodation which he says is not appropriate. While the announcement by the minister was welcomed for many of the homeless agencies it does not go far enough.
Joyce Loughnan, CEO of Focus Ireland, says that at least three thousand homes are needed in the next year to put an end to long-term homelessness in Ireland. Cormac Lally, Chairman of Midlands Simon, says as the number of people who are homelessness grows, the demands on their staff also increase.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 April 2009. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.
