<p>
	The number of children living in homeless accommodation in Dublin has passed the 2,000 mark for the first time.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) began collating statistics on people living in homeless accommodation last year. The latest figures show a 79pc increase in the number of families in emergency accommodation, from 556 in July last year to 939 last month.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Slammed</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	The number of children in emergency accommodation rose by 70pc from 1,185 to 2,020 in the same period.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Groups working with the homeless slammed the figures, with the Dublin Simon Community calling the increase &quot;astounding&quot;.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	In a statement, the charity said it &quot;highlighted the need for the implementation of measures to tackle the homeless crisis&quot;.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;The continuing rise in the number of vulnerable families and children becoming homeless highlights once again the urgent need for the implementation of the Housing and Homeless Action Plan,&quot; it said.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;The new action plan has outlined measures to limit the use of emergency accommodation for families in Dublin and ensure that hotels are only used in limited circumstances by mid-2017.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;It promises 1,000 rapid housing units by 2016 and 800 by 2017.&quot;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Independent Dublin councillor Christy Burke, who campaigns on behalf of the homeless, was outraged by the latest homelessness stat- istics.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	He said he was considering helping to take a legal action against the State on behalf of eight to 10 homeless families.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;This situation - what an indictment of a person&#39;s or a family&#39;s civil liberties. Nothing has changed,&quot; he said.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;I go out two nights a week as a volunteer for the homeless and I could have told you nothing is getting better. It&#39;s getting worse.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;It&#39;s an indictment. It&#39;s a breach of civil liberties and human rights.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;There&#39;s a lot of things that can be done - buy back properties, go to auctions, increase rent allowance by 30pc, not 15pc.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;At the very least we need to stop the appalling act of the inhumane conditions for these children.&quot;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Last month marked the launch of the Government plan to tackle the housing crisis, called Rebuilding Ireland.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	A budget of &euro;5bn for social housing over the next five years and the establishment of a new Housing Procurement Office were among the actions listed in the document.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Urgent</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Dublin Simon said there was an urgent need for the &quot;comprehensive actions&quot; laid out in the plan to be implemented.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;This ambitious and detailed plan makes it clear that housing and homelessness is a top government priority,&quot; it said.</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	&quot;For the first time we are seeing genuine cross-department and agency partnerships in order to provide solutions for people who are homeless, with a particular emphasis on moving people out of homelessness and prevention measures to keep people in their own homes.&quot;</p>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	(Published by the Herald.ie on the 23rd August 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.herald.ie/news/number-of-children-in-emergency-beds-tops-2000-for-the-first-time-34986585.html">http://www.herald.ie/news/number-of-children-in-emergency-beds-tops-2000-for-the-first-time-34986585.html</a></p>
