HOMELESS numbers are the lowest they have been in five years in the Irish capital, according to the latest statistics from Dublin City Council.
There are reportedly 413 homeless families currently living in Dublin hotels, while a further 77 families were moved from hotels to self-contained apartments between March and May, as more short-term rentals became available.
Despite the dropping figures, the city council's report highlighted concerns about the availability of hostel beds for rough sleepers during the upcoming winter, with 500 beds lost from the system due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ireland had been gripped by a growing homelessness crisis, particularly in Dublin before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Rough sleepers were initially taken off the streets and housed in hotels and hostels once lockdown began, but there are fears about the sustainability of providing places to stay as lockdown measures are slowly eased.
The council's head of housing Brendan Kelly said the Dublin Region Homeless Executive had secured a number of short-term rental properties, including Airbnb and student accommodations, but the families places in these properties are still included in the emergency accommodation figures.
These properties have been leased for a 12-month period, but Mr Kelly said he hopes these rental agreements could be made permanent.
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