OVER 200 hundred children in the Mid West were living in emergency accommodation during the month of August, with 95 of those from single parent families.
That’s according to the latest report from the Department of Housing, which showed that 153 families across Limerick and Clare were homeless during the week of August 25-31, an increase from 147 families in July.
The figures show the number of homeless families in the region jumping almost a third since last year.
A total of 601 adults availed of homeless services in the region last month, 529 in Limerick with the remainder in Clare.
The majority of individuals accessing accommodation were young people aged 18 to 44.
Under the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026, three additional tenancies were created during the second quarter of this year, the report stated.
The national programme aims to provide an holistic approach to addressing homelessness, in particular for those experiencing substance misuse or mental health challenges.
So far, 54 tenancies have been created under the plan across the Mid West.
Last week, Mid West Simon, in conjunction with the Simon Communities of Ireland, hosted a conference in Limerick to address food poverty and family homelessness in the region.
The housing charity also travelled to Leinster House to outline their demands to the government ahead of Budget 2026.
Over 1,100 families in the Mid West are currently availing of food banks through the Mid West Simon Community. This figure does not include support from other service providers or Mid West Simon clients in the region.
