Press Release
Latest homeless figures ‘a national disgrace’, says Merchants Quay Ireland
Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), the national homeless and drugs charity, has today called the latest homeless figures “a national disgrace” and a defining moment in Irish history.
The homeless figures for July showed 6,024 adults and 3,867 dependents, a total of 9,891. The most recent rough sleeper count in Dublin showed 110 rough sleepers, giving a total figure of 10,001.
Speaking on the release of the figures, CEO Tony Geoghegan said:
“To have 10,000 men, women and children homeless in one of the world’s best performing economies can only be described as a national disgrace. This will define Ireland for generations to come.
“The people who take shelter each night at MQI – single people, often with complex needs – will find themselves pushed further down the priority list and as that list grows, their hope of finding a home recedes. This, simply, is not good enough.
“The Minister needs to start delivering a sustained reduction in the number of homeless people. These are real people with nowhere to turn, nowhere to call home, people that this government has failed.”
-ENDS-
For more information or to arrange an interview with our spokesperson, Tony Geoghegan, please contact:
Andrew Rooney
Communications Officer
Merchants Quay Ireland
T: 01 531 2958
M: 086 7793 208
Email: andrew.rooney@mqi.ie
Website: www.mqi.ie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MerchantsQuayIR
Twitter: @MerchantsQuayIR
