Almost 90 homeless Laois families and single people in emergency accommodation

Almost 90 homeless families and single people in Laois are now living in emergency accommodation, in figures described as "fairly alarming".

There were 26 families placed in emergency accommodation in January 2023, and 63 single people, by Laois County Council.

They say they have "prevented 48 households from entering homelessness due to the intervention of the HAP Place Finder", where the council sources alternative homes for people losing their HAP rented accommodation.

Over the whole 2022, 244 people and families presented themselves as homeless to the reception of Laois County Council, the first port of call to find social housing in Laois.

Of those, 69 were families and 175 were single people.

The figures are "fairly alarming" commented Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, at the January meeting of Laois County Council.

"People think this only happens in Dublin. 29.3% of the council's allocations were to homeless people," she noted.

Cllr Willie Aird said he sees the people seeking help in county hall. 

"Homelessness has not gone away. 244 people presenting last year. I'm at county hall most days and you see it in the housing section. We have a situation and you don't gloss over it. The housing section is very challenged, it's difficult for staff," he said.

People with complex needs like addiction were also homed in Laois last year, with the council exceeding its quota.

Laois TD claims a family member ended up in hospital over Midoc 'collapse'

"Accommodation and supports are provided by Laois County Council to homeless individuals with complex needs, in accordance with the Housing first National Implementation Plan 2022-2026. A targe for the provisin of 35 units of accommodation over five years is included in this plan, ie 7 per year. In 2022, the council exceeded this target by providing 8 Housing First units in cooperation with the Peter McVerry Trust".