A homeless support service in Dublin has said that 2013 was its busiest year on record.

Threshold, the national housing charity, said that its Dublin Access Housing Unit received 800 referrals last year - an increase of 77% compared to 2012.

The unit provides support to those who are already homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless, to source accommodation in the private rented sector.

According to the unit's assistant manager, Fionnughla McLoughlin, the jump in demand last year was down to a number of reasons.

"Demand for accommodation in the private rental sector has been rising steadily in Dublin in recent years, and there is a serious shortage of rental accommodation in the city. This has driven average rent prices up.

"Add to that welfare cuts and rent supplement caps, and the result is that many low-income, vulnerable families are no longer able to make their rent or find suitable accommodation within their price range," she explained.

She noted that between 2010 and 2013, the amount of rental properties advertised on one leading property website fell by almost 75%.

"Furthermore, the percentage of landlords and agents advertising on the same website who were willing to accept rent supplement decreased from 21% in 2010 to 1.2% last year. This means, for low-income tenants in Dublin, there are very few options available," Ms McLoughlin said.

She pointed out that referrals to the unit have been steadily rising in recent years. In 2010, there were 260 referrals made. This rose to 394 in 2011 and 453 in 2012.

"We have been operating this service for 10 years and there have been steady increases in the numbers of people referred to us year on year. This is symptomatic of a wider problem - unfortunately, more and more people are currently finding themselves at risk of homelessness," she said.

Last year, the unit resolved 81 cases of homelessness - this included the housing of 51 children.

According to Threshold chairperson, Senator Aideen Hayden, homelessness ‘impacts particularly harshly in families with children'.

"Their education is disrupted, family support networks break down and there is a huge mental and emotional strain for those affected," she noted.
However, she emphasised that once a person is housed, the service does not end there.

"We recognise that people who have experienced homelessness need not just housing, but also support to get back on their feet. Working with Slí - Support to Live Independently - our staff will organise visiting support to ensure those who have been housed are given the best opportunity to succeed in their new homes. Importantly, a lot of work is also done to address the issues that led them to experience homelessness in the first place," she explained.

For more information on Threshold, click here