There's been a reduction of almost 16% in the total number of people in emergency accommodation.
Meanwhile the number of homeless families has also dropped, by over 37%, representing 578 families.
The latest figures from the Department of Housing compare the totals in December 2019 with the same month in 2020.
However according to Dublin Simon, the number of single homeless adults is up by 8.6% in that time.
In 2019 the figure was 4,094, and has risen to 4,447 - which is 76% of the national total of homeless people.
Family Homelessness is back down to March 2016 levels, but Threshold says that it was an 'abject crisis' five years ago, so it's still too high now.
— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) January 29, 2021
Why Are The Numbers Falling?
Threshold CEO John Mark McCafferty says Covid protections like the eviction ban have played a big role:
"It's very positive, as is the increase in people able to move out of homelessness."
"It largely comes down to things like the moratorium on evictions during the year."
"Which really did reduce the risk of homelessness for many people."
"That's because many people come from the private rental sector into homelessness for a variety of reasons."
Minister Says Levels Are Still 'Unacceptably High'
Minister Darragh O'Brien says the levels are still too high, despite the reduction:
"While these current trends are positive, we still have a lot of work to do and homelessness remains unacceptably high."
"My long-term vision is to have more social and affordable homes with much fewer people in emergency accommodation."
"We want housing for all."
Family Homelessness Back To 2016 Levels
While the number of dependants, who are often children, in emergency accommodation has fallen by almost a third too.
In December 2020 there were 2,327 dependants counted, compared with 3,422 in 2019.
That means the number of children and other dependants is now back at the level is was in March 2016.
However Threshold CEO John Mark McCafferty says that's still too high:
"I guess, back in March 2016, we were looking at the figures then and saw it as an abject crisis."
"It was a huge issue for us all, and an indictment on our housing system."
"So these figures are still too high, and the Minister has pointed to that today."
Some good news from the Department of Housing where homeless figures are concerned.
The number of individuals is down almost 16% to 8,200 (from 9,731).
The number of homeless families is down over 37%, to 970 (from 1,548).
However the # single people's up about 8.6% (Simon)— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) January 29, 2021
The Dublin Simon Community says it's worried that when the pandemic protections, like the eviction ban, end - that people who are priced out of the market will be forced into homelessness.
National Spokesperson Wayne Stanley says this fear begins at the end of Level 5, which may potentially be early March:
"We are deeply concerned that when Ireland exits this third lockdown period and the current moratorium on evictions is lifted, the lack of affordability in our housing system will see the numbers of people being pushed into homelessness increase again."
"As our Locked Out report this week showed prices in the private rental market remain consistently unaffordable, particularly for single people" he said.
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