The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THERE were 59 homeless adults in Clare during the week from May 23-29, according to figures from the Department of Housing.Across the Mid West region there were 71 families, with 135 children accessing emergency accommodation during the same week.
Jackie Bonfield, Mid West Simon Community CEO said that the homeless situation is disimproving, and likely to continue to decline.
“The numbers nationally are getting worse. The ban on evictions has been lifted, which absolutely isn’t helping the situation. There is still a shortage of accommodation, a shortage of properties to rent.
“I don’t believe we have seen the wave yet from the increase in the cost of living, but it is going to come, I’d say over the next few months.
“People are struggling to pay bills now and there’s only so long they can afford to keep paying the rent at the rate they were paying it, and trying to survive, with food and everything else increasing.”
Support is needed, and not just for those out of work, because many people with jobs are also now struggling, she feels.
“We are going to see an increase unless the Government bring in some sort of supports for people who need it. It’s not just people on social welfare. I know there’s a lot of calling for the Government to give increases in social welfare, but we have a lot more people coming to us who are working and they’re trying to access the food bank.
“We have people who are coming to us because they are trying to carpool because it’s getting so expensive to travel to work. There are people above the threshold for their kids to get the SUSI grant for their kids to go to college, but they have no way to pay for accommodation for their kids to go to college. The Government are going to have to look at everybody in the country, see who is under pressure and where they can give support.
”She said that people in private rented accommodation may be most vulnerable, and need to be made aware of any available supports.
“People who have a mortgage, in a way they are better off than people who are renting, if they weren’t able to pay the mortgage they can go and talk to the bank and try and put something in place, but if you can’t pay your rent, you’re out.
“They’re going to have to start looking at it, I think it’s important they start putting support on the ground, have someplace people can come to for advice and support.
“Maybe people who are renting aren’t claiming HAP and maybe they could be, there could be other possible supports out there.”
In places like Clare the drastic increases in fuel prices will be particularly felt, she says.
“If someone was putting in €100 to go to work now it’s €200. That’s a huge jump. In Clare there’s no bus service dropping you to work, no Luas, no train, nothing.
“You’re getting into your car and you’re driving. People in rural Ireland are really going to be hit with transport costs, there’s no getting away from it.
“If you live in west Clare there’s a large possibility you’re working in Ennis or Shannon or Limerick.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
