LAST UPDATE
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14 hrs ago
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE living in emergency accommodation in Ireland has yet again hit a record high, now standing at 16,766.
Latest figures from the Department of Housing show that 11,492 adults and 5,274 children were in emergency accommodation in October.
This figure also includes 2,484 families.
It represents an increase of 152 people compared to the previous month’s figures, which saw a then record 16,614 people in emergency accommodation, including 5,238 children.
The number of people accessing emergency accommodation across the country has been on the rise over the last number of years.
These statistics don’t account for those who are sleeping rough or “couch-surfing” with friends and family.
Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne noted that there’s been a 13.5% increase in the number of children in emergency accommodation since the General Election last year.
“A short time before election day, Micheál Martin said he hoped the numbers of people in homelessness would come down over the next 12 months,” said Hearne.
“His government has ensured that the exact opposite has happened.”
“Ireland is a wealthy country with the money to tackle this crisis, yet successive governments’ housing policies have failed to adequately increase the provision of social and affordable homes. The current Coalition has no new ideas on how to fix this mess.
“No child should grow up without a home, and this should not be a radical statement. Yet, this Christmas, more children than ever will find themselves in emergency accommodation.”
Elsewhere, Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, warned that the “alarming levels of homelessness will continue to grow in 2026 unless urgent solutions are delivered”.
“This Christmas, an additional 629 children will face the harsh reality of homelessness compared to last year.”
And while she noted that children and families remain deeply affected, she remarked that “single adults are often the forgotten group and unfortunately they remain largely absent from the newly launched Housing Plan”.
“It’s difficult to imagine not having somewhere welcoming to go to over the holiday season, and not having a safe place to call home, but unfortunately that’s the reality for huge numbers of people across Ireland.
“Human beings deserve far better than this. It’s shocking that so many people will go without this basic security at a time meant for joy and family.”
Focus Ireland added that while it welcomes the Government’s new strategy, “families will judge it by results”.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the government’s new housing plan needs “specific deadlines and clear milestones to track progress and maintain accountability”.
“Urgency, robust targets, and timely delivery are crucial to ensure families and individuals experiencing homelessness have secure housing,” he added.
-With additional reporting from Eimer McAuley
