Written by 2:34 pm Economy

Number of families in emergency accommodation in Dublin At 3 Year Low

There are currently 1,103 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin, the lowest since May 2017. The numbers are likely to decrease in April.

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According to the latest figures (March 2020), there are currently 1,103 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin, the lowest number since May 2017, Dublin City Council reports. Dublin City Council says it expects to see a further decrease in April.

A total of 216 families entered emergency accommodation for the first time between January and March 2020, compared to 276 in 2019, and 293 in 2018.

In the period January to March 2020, 350 families exited from emergency accommodation into tenancies. The figure was 237 for the same period in 2019, and 177 in 2018.

The number of families currently residing in hotels (March 2020) is the lowest since early 2016. There were 540 families in hotel accommodation at the end of March 2020. At its peak in March 2017 the figure was 871. The number of families in hotels will be reduced further in April 2020.

“This welcome reduction in family homelessness results mainly from a gradual decrease in new presentations over recent months and a continuing increase in exits into tenancies,” said Dublin City Council Deputy Chief Executive Brendan Kenny.

The increased level of housing supply in the latter months of 2019 and early months of 2020 has made a difference. The recruitment of 15 new Family Support Officers by the DRHE/DCC and their assignment to work intensively with families residing in emergency accommodation on their exit into tenancies has also had a very positive impact.

Dublin City Council is hopeful that the new property environment caused by Covid-19 will lead it to source a greater number of long-term leased/acquired homes that will serve as permanent social housing but it has had no real impact yet on exits of families from emergency accommodation.

“With the big change in the property market we expect now to be able to source a significant number of self-contained apartments as an alternative to hotels that will provide much more suitable accommodation and represent much better value for money,” added Brendan Kenny.

While it welcomes the decrease in the number of families in emergency accommodation Dublin City Council acknowledges that the figures are still far too high and promises that there will be no let-up in its collective efforts on this issue.

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