The latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show that the number of homeless men, women and children in Ireland in May had risen to 14,159 – an increase of 150 on the month previous.
These figures show an increase of 1,718 people, or 14%, in emergency accommodation in the 12 months since May of 2023.
2,051 of these were families – a 16% (281) increase in the year. Meanwhile, 4,316 were children – a 17% (617) increase in the year.
Reacting to the figures, Simon Communities Executive Director Wayne Stanley described the figures as a “crisis”.
“14,159 people, over 4,000 of them children, in homelessness, is correctly called a crisis,” he said.
“But this fact should not feed a sense of fatalism. Making progress on homelessness, even getting to the point where homelessness is short-term and quickly solvable, is possible.”
Stanley said that the upcoming Budget 2025 would need to put in place mechanisms to ensure homelessness was dealt with adequately.
“Budget 2025 and the next programme for Government will set the framework for success or failure,” he said.
“A framework for success requires a commitment to preventing homelessness, supporting those in homelessness to deal with the trauma of that experience, and providing the affordable homes that are the route out of homelessness.
“Budget 2025 needs to see greater investment in social housing, investment in health support for those in homelessness, and support to local authorities to invest in prevention services.”
Meanwhile, Focus Ireland called for “urgent government action” in response to the latest figures.
The organisation’s CEO, Pat Dennigan, highlighted that not only are record numbers of children facing homelessness, but they are also “enduring homelessness for extended durations, increasing the potential trauma.”
“…the grim reality is that homelessness continues to rise,” he said.
“A key factor for this increase is that the new social housing allocations are not going to families and individuals who have been trapped in emergency accommodation for extended periods. If the most vulnerable were prioritised we could see these monthly figures reduce significantly.”