Carlow homeless figures on the rise amongst latest record highs

There are now 32 people classed as homeless in Carlow as figures soar to their highest ever. 

A new record high of 11,632 people are homeless in Ireland according to the latest official figures – which also show almost 3,500 children were in emergency accommodation for Christmas.

It means that new peaks have been set for six months in a row, despite a temporary eviction ban being in place since November.

In the South East, a total of 231 people are classed as homeless, a 3% increase for the region covering Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wexford and Tipperary. 

The official Department of Housing figures for December published on Friday show there were 8,190 adults and 3,442 children recorded as homeless.

The total figure for November was 11,542 people.

The official tally excludes rough sleepers, women in refuges, people who are ‘couch surfing’, and those who are turned away from emergency accommodation when there is no space.

Executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, Wayne Stanley said it was “profoundly upsetting” to see homelessness continue to increase.

“We usually see a trend in December, where the number of people depending on emergency homeless accommodation falls as family and friends offer respite over the Christmas period.

“While this support was evident again last month, and we did see a fall in the number of families and children in homelessness, overall we saw an increase in December for the first time in six years.”