Nearly 1,000 children were at risk of entering homelessness in the first three months of 2024, the housing charity Threshold has claimed.
In its Q1 2024 Impact Report, the charity noted it had supported over 900 households from becoming homeless, helping 1,235 adults and 983 children.
Speaking on Breakfast Briefing, the charity’s National Advocacy Manager Anne Marie O’Reilly said demand for the charity’s services in the first three months this year were comparable to the same period last year.
Homelessness in Ireland
“Overall, there’s not a significant difference between the two quarters,” she said.
“We do see fairly consistent numbers in the people who do get in touch with us.
“What we’ve highlighted here in this report then is the number of people who actually are experiencing rent arrears and the difficulties they can face in trying to pay those rent arrears and to hold onto their tenancy.”
A key in a lock.Threshold
In most cases, tenants are at risk of homelessness because the landlord wishes to sell the home.
Otherwise, it is usually because they want to have a family member move in.
“That’s the trend we’ve seen for sometime now,” Ms O’Reilly said.
“Unfortunately, we don’t expect it to change any time soon.”
If contacted by a tenant at risk of losing their home, the charity will try and negotiate a possible resolution.
“With permission, we’ll talk to the landlord or the letting agent - whoever is involved - and see what we can figure out,” she said.
“If it’s an option, we’ll help the person apply for an additional needs payment from the social welfare and if they are receiving HAP, we’ll get in touch with the local authority and see if there’s anything additional that can be done.
“HAP was given extra flexibility about two years ago, so we’ll see if that’s an option.”
In March this year, there were 13,866 people in Ireland who were registered homeless.
Main image: Little child girl sitting near teddy bear with lonely and sadness. Picture by: Credit: Prajuab Chaipimpa / Alamy Stock Photo
