Spokespeople Available 086 044 5966
The growing numbers of homeless children is unacceptable. Ahead of the latest homelessness data figures from the Department of Housing, Barnardos says too many children are spending years in emergency accommodation which is damaging to their health, wellbeing and general development.
With schools now closing for the summer break, this situation will be exacerbated over the next few months as children will be forced to spend more time in a cramped and unsuitable environment. Some children are growing up in emergency accommodation, sharing single rooms with their parents and siblings, with extremely limited facilities. Parents Barnardos supports in these settings frequently discuss the additional difficulties of living in such small spaces over these periods.
Unfortunately, as the situation continues to worsen, little to no immediate actions are being taken by Government to try and address the problem. Measures must be implemented to reduce the number of children living in emergency accommodation, limit the time they spend living this way and the introduction of additional supports to mitigate the potential harms they face must be introduced.
The Government must set a maximum length of time children can share rooms with parents and offer of intensive family support to all families in emergency accommodation.
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Barnardos Press Office: [email protected] / 086 0445966