Depaul Ireland, a charity that helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, saw an increase in requests for services last year compared with 2022.
Last year, Depaul Ireland provided essential support to 10,936 people – 8,445 adults and 2,491 children, including 1,415 families – marking an 85% increase in families seeking help compared to 2022.
The charity said in its impact report "A Voice for Change," published on September 17, that saw a 46% increase in the number of people seeking support compared to 2022.
"The scale of the crisis is underpinned by the fact that 18 babies were born into homelessness within Depaul’s services last year, highlighting the urgent need for long-term solutions," the charity added.
A Voice for Change
Today we launch our Impact Report for 2023 which highlights the growing demand for our services and among other things the growing complexity of mental health issues among our users across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Our latest report highlights the… pic.twitter.com/fvCqwM5fN3
— Depaul (@DepaulIreland) September 17, 2024
Depaul Ireland further said that its report "provides strong evidence that mental health issues are increasingly prevalent in those seeking our support.
"This is evidenced by the fact that on average 1 in 7 of those seeking temporary accommodation each night are presenting with significant and enduring mental health challenges.
"Unfortunately, such environments, as temporary accommodation, often worsen conditions like depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.
"In 2023, our staff managed 344 cases of suicidal ideation and many instances of self-harm, despite being under-resourced and under-trained to handle the increasing complexities."
Meanwhile, Depaul said 726 service users were moved out of homelessness into suitable long-term accommodation in 2023.
September 17, 2024: Depaul Ireland launches its 2023 impact report "A Voice for Change." (RollingNews.ie)
David Carroll, CEO of Depaul Ireland, wrote in the report: "Recently, we have seen how the ongoing homelessness crisis has been exacerbated by international conflict, the cost of living crisis and, increasingly, climate change.
"There has not only been an increase in demand, we have also seen changing patterns in employment, technological development, economic management and inward migration, all of which affect the way we approach and undertake our work.
"Amid political polarisation and wider pressure on the NGO sector, it is becoming more challenging to play our part in ending homelessness."
Depaul Ireland's impact report comes just over two weeks after Ireland's Department of Housing published its homeless figures for July 2024.
10,028 adults and 4,401 children - including 2,096 families - were in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by housing authorities during the week of July 22 - 28.
The figures, which the Irish Examiner notes do not include people sleeping rough, those that may be couch surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, or those who are in shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres, increased for the seventh month in a row.
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