Press Release
Latest homeless figures show Ireland is coming close to accepting the homeless crisis is a problem we cannot solve
Merchants Quay Ireland, the national homeless and addiction charity, today responded to the latest homeless figures by warning that Ireland should reject the idea that the homeless crisis is a problem that cannot be solved.
The latest homeless figures, released today, showed that there were 6,584 adults and 3,794 children homeless during the week of 22nd – 28th April 2019. The figures do not include the latest rough sleeper count, which showed a further 128 people homeless in Dublin. Combined, this brings the total number of people homeless in Ireland to 10,556.
Speaking on the release of the homeless figures, CEO of Merchants Quay Ireland Paula Byrne said
“With each increase in the homeless figures, Ireland risks accepting the level of homelessness in this country as a normality. We should not forget that this crisis can be solved.
“Every day at Merchants Quay, we are seeing the devastating impact that homelessness is having on people’s physical and mental health. The longer we leave people in homelessness, the more their mental health will suffer.
“I am urging the Government to re-evaluate their approach, involving all stakeholders to solve this national crisis.”
-ENDS-
For more information, 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
About Merchants Quay Ireland
Merchants Quay Ireland is a leading Irish charity working with people who are homeless and in addiction. The organisation provides services ranging from open access crisis intervention and health promotion services to day-support programmes, educational programmes, vocational training, residential treatment, detox and prison counselling. www.mqi.ie.
To find out more about Merchants Quay Ireland’s work, please see our newly released short film: https://youtu.be/8SkkmxdtLyE
