Number of rough sleepers down by almost a third but figures ‘still far too high’

The number of people sleeping rough in Dublin has dropped by almost a third, according to the latest Dublin Region Homeless Executive report.

There were 91 individuals recorded as rough sleepers in the last week in March compared to the 125 confirmed by a survey in Spring in 2021.

However, there was a reported sharp spike in the number of homeless deaths last year compared to 2020.

Read more: Over 9,000 people homeless in Ireland including ‘depressing’ number of children

A total of 115 homeless people died in Dublin last year – more than double the number who died in 2019 and 39 more than last year.

The DHRE’s Official Spring Count of people sleeping rough in the Dublin Region was carried out over the week March 28 to April 3, 2022.

A total of 91 unique individuals were confirmed as rough sleeping across the Dublin region over the week of the count which represents a reduction of 34 persons, or 27%, on the same period last year.

There were 125 people found to be rough sleeping during the week-long Spring Rough Sleeper count in 2021.

It is also a reduction of three persons on the Winter Count 2021, when 94 people were found to be rough sleeping.

The count was arranged by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and carried out by the Dublin Simon Community Outreach Team and supported by the Peter McVerry Trust Housing First Intake Team.

Additional Outreach workers were deployed to ensure intense coverage of city centre areas. Staff in all four Dublin local authorities and An Garda Síochána provided additional information about people who were rough sleeping, especially those in isolated areas.

Of the 91 people met rough sleeping, 72 had previously been assessed by the DRHE for homeless services, and the remaining 19 persons were being actively engaged with by the Outreach team be assessed by homeless services.

The Dublin Simon Community welcomed the drop in rough sleepers but added the numbers were “still far too high”.

A spokeswoman said: “The number of people sleeping out on the city’s streets is still far too high. Nobody should have to sleep rough, and our Outreach team will continue to engage with those who remain to provide housing options, referral to critical treatment services, address barriers to accepting accommodation, advocating on their behalf with partners across the sector.

“Furthermore, while rough sleeping is declining, the number of people in emergency accommodation continues to climb to pre-pandemic levels.

She added: “People are now spending far longer in emergency accommodation because there are no social or affordable homes available for them. Sheltered accommodation is safer than rough sleeping, but nowhere is safer than inside your own front door.”

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