Emergency plan needed to permanently eradicate child homelessness
There has been a 47 per cent rise in the number of children becoming homeless since this Government took office, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.
Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said:
“The latest figures show there are now 12,827 people living in homeless emergency accommodation.
“This government has surpassed another shameful milestone as, tragically, 3904 of these are children. This is the highest number ever recorded in the history of the state.
“Living in emergency accommodation can have a profound impact on a child’s education, wellbeing, and self-esteem.
“Children need space to learn and to play. They need a place where they can build friendships. They need a stable home from which to develop.
“The continued rise in the number children growing up without a home represents a monumental failure for this Government who have watched child homelessness increase by 47 per cent since taking office.
“The Minister for Housing needs to immediately publish a plan to eradicate child homelessness in 2024.
“This plan must include a permanent ban on no fault evictions to protect children from the trauma of growing up without a home.
“There is no acceptable level of child homelessness. We are not a country starved of resources. Ensuring that every child grows up with a home should be the bare minimum for any government.”
ENDS
27 October, 2023