The plan to end long-term homelessness in Dublin by 2016 is ‘now clearly unachievable', the Simon Community has warned.

According to Sam McGuinness of the Dublin Simon Community, over 1,400 people have to take shelter in emergency accommodation in the Dublin region every night, ‘with little or no hope of moving on to somewhere of their own that is safe and protected'.

This figure of 1,400 does not take into account families with children who are living in hotels and other types of accommodation.

"Each day, very vulnerable people are being met with a complex mix of housing shortages, inadequate rent supplement/allowances and rents rising at a shocking rate, with discrimination against social welfare recipients. Individuals and families are losing their homes and are being shut out of the rental market because of prices they cannot afford," he said.

He pointed out that the 2014 target of 1,100 tenancies for Dublin has been cut by 30% ‘because of the complete collapse in the private rented and social housing market, with additional housing extremely slow to come on stream'.

"Instead, temporary accommodation has become a long-term solution as at least 50% of people are now stuck in emergency shelters for more than six months, with little or no hope for the future. Recent talks about green shoots are not reaching the most vulnerable in our society, the majority of whom never experienced any benefits from the Celtic Tiger," Mr McGuinness said.

He pointed out that only last week, volunteers counted 158 people sleeping rough in Dublin, an increase of 24% when compared with last April.

"We would see this as the absolute minimum figure, as this does not include people considered the ‘hidden homeless' who are couch surfing, staying in squats, hospitals, internet cafes or temporary B&Bs," he commented.

Mr McGuinness said that the Dublin Simon Community is working with all resources at its disposal in an effort to tackle this growing crisis.

"We are focusing on housing as the critical step in responding to a person's homelessness. Using our new Housing Development Fund, we are committed to the sourcing and acquiring of fit-for-purpose properties across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Meath. Over the past year we have increased our accommodation capacity by over 50% in order to respond to the huge demand," he added.

Mr McGuinness made his comments at the launch of the Dublin Simon Community's Annual Review 2013 at the Mansion House in Dublin.