Record homeless figures reported in midlands area

Numbers in emergency accommodation in the midlands hit a record high last month.

Official figures from the Department of Housing revealed there were 326 people in emergency accommodation in the midlands during the week March 24 to March 30 – 230 adults and 96 children.

Nationally, a record 15,418 people were living in emergency accommodation during that period last month, 4,675 of whom were children, figures show. That is up 40 people from February.

In the midlands, the previous monthly figure, for February, recorded 301 people including 82 children.

In January, there were 191 adults and 71 children in emergency accommodation in the midlands.

There is a county breakdown for the adults, but not for the children.

Of the 230 adults using emergency accommodation in the midlands in the last week of March, 86 were in Westmeath, 70 in Offaly, 52 in Laois and 22 in Longford.

Of these 230 adults, 169 are Irish citizens, 33 from the European Economic Area and UK, and 28 from outside the European Economic Area.

The Department’s official statistics are published on a monthly basis and refer to the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities during a specific count week, typically the last full week of the month.

The figures do not take into account those outside emergency accommodation, including those living on the streets, couch-surfing or temporarily staying with friends or family.