Slight Drop In Number Of Homeless In The Midlands

Friday, 24 February 2023 15:46

Westmeath has the highest number in the region.

There's a drop in the number of homeless people in the midlands.

122 people, half of which are children, were without permanent accommodation in the midlands in January - down from 130 in December.

Westmeath has the highest number in the region at 50, closely followed by Offaly with 46 and 26 were homeless in Laois.

Nationally, there is a record number of people are registered as homeless for the sixth month in a row - with the number now standing at 11,754, according to the Department of Housing.

The total for January is 28 per cent higher than a year ago, and 41 per cent up on two years ago.

It includes 3,431 children - which is the highest number of children growing up in B&Bs and hotels in almost three years.

Dublin makes up 72% of the national figure where there's a total of 8,523 people homeless - including 2,577 children.

Housing charity Focus Ireland has called on the Government to extend the eviction ban which is due to lifted from the end of next month.

The figures released by the Department of Housing do not include refugees, asylum seekers, women in refuge centres, the hidden homeless, or rough sleepers.