14/12/2015

Reports Reveals 46% Fall In Rough Sleepers

A new report has revealed a 46% drop in the number of people sleeping rough in the Dublin region.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive conducted a rough sleeper count on the night of the 30th November. A total of 91 rough sleepers were recorded – this compares to the 168 that were recorded in November 2014.

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, said: "The accommodation of rough sleepers is one of the priority areas identified in the Implementation Plan on the State's Response to Homelessness. While I am pleased to see a decrease in the number of rough sleepers, unfortunately there are still some individuals with complex needs, mainly as a result of addiction or mental health issues, that are not availing of emergency accommodation. All efforts continue to assertively engage with such individuals and to direct them to the appropriate HSE healthcare and social services.

"I am also pleased to see that the number of homeless family presentations last month was down to 60. Figures for the last number of months have shown the number of presentations to be in the 70s. I believe that this decrease is a result of the initiatives I have implemented and look forward to more positive developments in the future.

"Taken together with the decrease in the numbers presenting as homeless, the implementation of the Cold Weather Initiative and the increase being seen in Homeless HAP recipients since I increased the rent threshold to 50% above normal limits, I am pleased to see that the numbers sleeping rough to have fallen by 46% since last year. While even one rough sleeper is one too many, progress is welcome."

(MH/LM)

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