ALARM bells are ringing over a 34% increase in Clare’s homeless presentations for the first six months of this year compared with previous figures for full years.
New statistics obtained by the Clare Champion revealed there were 94 adult single homeless presentations in Clare from January to June 2022 compared to 70 for twelve months in 2019 and 69 for 2020.
The highest total was back in 2018 when there were 127 adult single homeless presentations.
At the end of the first quarter in 2022, there were 59 adults in emergency accommodation which included 12 families, four couples with dependent children and eight individuals with dependent children). The total number of dependents was 23.
During 2021, there were 1,959 presentations, 626 new and 1,333 repeat, and 29 new households were placed in accommodation in homeless services.
Clare County Council’s homeless expenditure has increased dramatically from €561,032 in 2018 to €2.192 million in 2019 to €2.2395 million in 2020 and €2.223 million in 2021.
Councillor Johnny Flynn has expressed concern about the “significant increase” in homelessness in Clare in recent years.
In view of the fact that prisoners leaving prison is one of the reasons for homelessness, he proposed at a council meeting on Monday that Bedford Row should be included in the regional homelessness committee, as they support the reintegration of prisoners into society.
He asked for more details on the Winter Initiative about rough sleepers, with about 12 people in this category in Ennis.
Chief Executive Pat Dowling acknowledged tackling homelessness is a challenge in Clare and other counties before noting every effort is being made to address this issue on a regional basis.
“There is a clear requirement for further infrastructure to be made available. We have engaged with Bedford Row on this issue and they have visited my office on a number of occasions. We can look at that again. They did run a service in Ennis at one stage.”
Social Development Director of Service, Anne Haugh confirmed there are a small number of rough sleepers in Ennis and Kilrush, who have been engaged with and offered a bed for anyone who wishes to take up that offer.
During 2021, 76 Clare households exited homelessness. In the Mid-West Homeless Action Plan 2022 to 2025, the Clare Homeless Action Team (HAT) stated these figures represent a significant amount of prevention work and this will continue to be the focus of the service.
Under the Own Front Door Project, 11 individuals successfully transitioned from private emergency accommodation to this supported shared living accommodation last year.
In August 2021, Clare HAT commenced Housing First with three households successfully transitioning to this new supported model one from private emergency accommodation, one from street homelessness and one from a state facility.
Clare County Council continues to work on homeless prevention in supporting the prevention of persons from entering homelessness.
This includes the acquisition of properties for sale subject to funding approval where the tenants are in receipt of housing support and have received a notice of termination. This has prevented a number of families entering emergency accommodation.
The council’s Homeless HAP Place finder provides support to homeless households and those at risk of homelessness by way of assisting the sourcing of HAP properties and providing financial assistance.
In 2021, 233 new HAP tenancies were set up, of these 14 were Homeless HAP.
Under prevention and resettlement supports, Clare HAT recalled tenancy support and resettlement services were provided by Focus Ireland, Mid West Simon, Novas last year.
Clare HAT provided emergency accommodation for five families in Cusack Lodge, 13 in Laurel Lodge and Westbrook House and access to beds on a rolling basis under Clann Nua.
The Severe Weather Unit has earmarked capacity for five individuals in Laurel Lodge.
Multi-agency personnel and support costs include funding three assessment and placement officers, one youth housing project worker, one housing first project worker, two tenancy sustainment workers, one HAP Place Finder Officer, administrative staff and one co-ordinator.
The Clare HAT office opened on 1st February, 2019. The service provides an inter-agency, integrated approach to homelessness. The council opened their first family hub, Cusack Lodge, to provide accommodation and support to homeless families in 2019. Westbrook House provides accommodation to single people mainly.
These facilities provide security to those who experience homelessness and reduce the dependency on private emergency accommodation.
Clare HAT Service provides an appointment led service that are managed in order of priority to ensure those most in need are supported with the most appropriate accommodation placement or information.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.