The number of people living in Emergency Accommodation in the West is rising almost 50% faster than the national rate according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

That has alarmed the Galway Simon Community which said that the continuing increase was reflective of what they are seeing in their own services – which are “stretched to keep up with demand” from those who need their help.

The latest figures released by the Department showed 632 people, including 116 families with 239 children, were recorded as living in Emergency Accommodation in the West of Ireland at the end of May.

The number of people increased by 20% over the previous twelve months, with the number of families increasing by 23%.

Simon said that the lack of affordable accommodation is one of the factors driving the increase in homelessness.

Galway Simon Community’s Homelessness Prevention Services help to prevent individuals and families from entering into emergency accommodation, as well as enabling people to move on from Galway Simon’s homeless services to live independently.

One of the ways in which they do this is to provide people with supports to source affordable accommodation, but the charity says this remains “extremely difficult” due to the lack of affordable accommodation available.

“The current supply of housing and the rate of new housing coming on stream in Galway is inadequate, relative to demand across social, affordable and private housing,” said Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community.

Caption: Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community.

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