Homelessness reaching crisis levels in Galway city

There is an increasing demand on homeless services in Galway, with more people being pushed out of the rental sector due to rising rents and a lack of rental properties coupled with a massive lack of social housing.

While there are no up-to-date figures currently available for the level of homelessness as services are managed by different agencies as well as Galway City Council, it is the perfect storm according to those working in the field.

After five years of recession, many people are to the pin of their collar with their household budgets. There is no social housing being built, the council has been depleted of funding to bring empty properties back up to scratch for letting to local authority tenants and it is a landlord’s market when it comes to the rental sector.

Rents have gone up 6% in the city compared to last year according to the latest data from the property website daft.ie, with one-bedroom apartments starting at €600. The total rent supplement for people on social welfare is €480. Social welfare rates have been cut to €100 for those under 25.

“What people are forced to do is eat into their income for food, heating and other bills. We have a case here recently where a man helped by our outreach team hadn’t turned on a light in his house for a month. That shouldn’t be happening in 2014 Galway,” insisted CEO of Galway Simon Community Bill Griffin.

See full story in today’s Sentinel.