Single homeless adults 'overlooked', warns charity
Simon Communities of Ireland has warned that single adults have been largely overlooked in housing policy and homelessness responses, despite being the dominant demographic living in emergency accommodation.
A charity is raising awareness that single adults are being overlooked in Ireland's approach to homelessness, despite accounting for the majority of those in emergency housing. According to the Department of Housing, 61% of all adults in emergency accommodation are single, a figure that has risen by 61% over the past five years.
Simon Communities of Ireland's Executive Director, Ber Grogan, emphasizes the need to prioritize this demographic in housing policy and homelessness responses. The organization is launching a national fundraising campaign, Homeless & Alone: One Big Push, as part of its conference, which aims to address the growing issue of single adult homelessness.
Grogan calls for a cross-government plan, led by the Department of the Taoiseach, involving various departments including health, addiction, and mental health services. She highlights the importance of understanding each person's unique needs and providing tailored support. Nearly seven in ten homeless adults reside in Dublin, with common reasons for homelessness including receiving a Notice of Termination and leaving Direct Provision or informal tenancies.
Grogan stresses that homelessness often results from failures in various systems, such as addiction and mental health services, and suggests that ending homelessness requires addressing these underlying issues.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
