Yahoo News Hidden Homelessness impacting 8,500 households in Northern Ireland, poll shows
Hidden homelessness is a growing problem that's affecting more than 30,000 households across the island of Ireland, new research today reveals.
The research found that 8,500 households in Northern Ireland and a further 24,000 households in the Republic of Ireland are currently experiencing the issue of hidden homelessness.
Hidden homelessness is a term used to describe those who may be considered homeless, but whose housing situation is not visible on the streets as they tend to sleep in cars, ‘sofa surf’, or take to squatting in their office.
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It can also be the case that these individuals have not contacted their local housing authority for help and, therefore, this goes unrecorded in official statistics.
Carried out by Ireland Thinks and LucidTalk, the poll is set to be the focal point at a conference in Dublin today, hosted by the Simon Communities of Ireland and Simon Community Northern Ireland.
Less than one in 20 (3.3%) of households in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (3.8%) confirmed they currently have no alternative but to live in a variety of situations, ranging from staying with family and friends to sleeping in their car
This was followed by staying in tents/caravans, in a workplace, overnight in a bus station and squatting.
Loss of home from the private rental market was the most common reason for experiencing hidden homelessness, with 37% citing this in Northern Ireland.
Other reasons included loss or reduction in income, loss of employment, loss of an owned or mortgaged home, and exiting an institution (care, hospital, or prison).
Surging costs appear to be making the private rental market increasingly inaccessible to those on lower incomes and is seen as a homelessness driver.
The duration of hidden homelessness experienced was significant in both jurisdictions with seven in ten (77%) people throughout Northern Ireland having to endure hidden homelessness for a period of six months or longer.
The new data also indicates younger people (18-34-year-olds) are more likely to experience hidden homelessness.
Another key difference revealed by the research is how those dealing with homelessness in the Republic were less likely to contact their local housing authorities than those in Northern Ireland.
Jim Dennison, Chief Executive of Simon Community NI, said: “This valuable research highlights the level of emergency we are facing across the island of Ireland.
“More and more households will be forced into homelessness due to social and economic factors.
“The official figure of over 55,500 people who are homeless in Northern Ireland is stark, but this doesn’t even include those who are currently experiencing hidden homelessness. We would in fact estimate that the true figure is closer to 75,000.
“This research will help organisations like Simon Community, across the island of Ireland, and our policy makers understand the true scale and nature of the problem, and so we are able to develop the solutions to tackle it.”
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