This article is from page 10 of the 2013-06-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A TOTAL of 304 people presented as homeless last year in Clare according to the county’s draft homelessness plan
More women (160) than men presented as homeless with the majority of people (122) aged between 20 and 29.
A total of 19 people under the age of 19 and 10 persons aged 60+ presented as homeless in 2012.
Most of those presented (212) said Clare was their county of origin.
The next highest number of people came from Limerick (27). Non European Union homeless people accounted for 12 with three coming from EU countries.
12 people from accession state countries presented as homeless in 2012.
83 people found themselves homeless due to domestic violence; 52 due to breakdown of an independent living arrangement; 34 people pre- sented as transient; 20 people were evicted from private accommodation and 18 people presenting as homeless had been released from prison.
According to the figures four people were discharged from acute hospital; three were discharged from a treatment centre and one person was homeless due to alcohol and drug addiction.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) told the June meeting of Ennis Town Council that young mothers and children are now becoming homeless.
She added, “That’s what I find heartbreaking about this, the stories behind the figures. This isn’t partying kids.” Cllr Howard was speaking in response to earlier comments from Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) who claimed that some homeless people who secure housing through agencies could be the source of antisocial behaviour in housing estates.
“There is often no follow up (by these agencies) in the estates,” he added.
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said that while it is “unfortunate” to see people drinking in laneways, homeless people “seem able to get housing more than our local people.”
“There are people using this homeless thing, especially in Ennis where the problem isn’t as big as that,” he added.
Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) said he found the figure of one person being homeless due to alcohol and drugs as “disingenuous.” He also claimed that the number of young people affected by homelessness is growing.