Housing Matters director appears on Sunday Opinion
A director of local charity Housing Matters says homelessness on the Isle of Man is rising.
Don Bailey appeared on yesterday's Sunday Opinion programme, discussing poverty.
He was joined by Erica Irwin from Graih, Neal Mellon from the Isle of Man Foodbank, plus Jason Moorhouse MHK and Tanya August-Hansen MLC who both sit on the Tynwald Select Committee on Poverty - which is tasked with investigating the issue before reporting back to the court with recommendations.
Last week, the panel heard oral evidence across two sessions, from some of the organisations helping the people who find themselves in need.
Among those giving evidence to the committee were officials from government.
Erica Irwin of Graih, who facilitates the drop-in service at the Douglas homeless shelter, agreed with Mr Bailey - she said in 2017, the number of new individuals using the charity's services was 202.
Mrs Irwin went on to say that in 2015, Graih gave three beds for the year, a figure which rose to 19 beds in 2016, 43 in 2017, and then this year the organisation hasn't been able to keep up with further increased demand, due to operational constraints.
Such pressure on the organisation has led to the pilot of a permanently staffed night shelter.
Mr Bailey echoed concerns about what appears to be a growing trend:
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