A RECORD 168 people were sleeping rough on the streets of Dublin during the latest count carried out by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive.

It is the highest figure recorded since records began in 2007, when 104 people were sleeping rough, and represents a year-on-year increase of 29 people.

DRHE noted that this was a 20% increase, compared to 60% between 2012 and 2013.

However, Focus Ireland last night warned that the homeless crisis is deepening.

“The continuing rise of people sleeping rough is very worrying and unacceptable,” director of advocacy Mike Allen said.

This shocking increase shows that homeless is not just about the terrible crisis of families being forced to live in hotel rooms. It is also about single people losing their accommodation and some having to sleep rough on the streets.

Allen also criticised the Government for not doing enough to tackle rising rents.

Minister for Local Government Alan Kelly said it is “unacceptable” that anyone should be sleeping rough.

“While rough sleeping is acute in Dublin, anecdotal evidence suggests that there may be problems in other parts of the country,” he said.

“I am anxious to ensure that funding is channelled appropriately to all regions so as to provide the necessary services and to deliver more permanent responses in a strategic way.”

Look back on TheJournal.ie’s Homeless Ireland series here >

Read: “There’s a lot of danger out there” – young people describe homelessness >

More: Here’s how learning to cook has helped people move out of homelessness >

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