Homelessness has reached another record, now numbering 14,760 people, including 4,561 children in 2,133 families, latest figures show.
The data, published on Friday by the Department of Housing, shows there were 10,199 adults, of whom 6,681 were alone and without children, accessing emergency accommodation during the week of September 23rd to 29th.
The figures represent a 15 per cent increase in destitution in a year, and a 17 per cent rise in child homelessness since September 2023 when there were 12,827 people in homeless shelters, including 3,904 children in 1,892 families.
In August, there were 14,486 people, including 4,419 children, in emergency accommodation. Of the 10,067 adults, 6,602 were single.
Among homeless adults last month, the largest proportion (53 per cent) were aged 25 to 44. A total of 2,818 (28 per cent) were aged 45 to 64, with 1,760 between 18 and 25 (17 per cent) and 227 (2 per cent) older than 64.
Just more than half of adults were recorded as Irish (53 per cent); 22 per cent were from the European Economic Area (EEA) or UK and 25 per cent were from outside the EEA. In Dublin, however, the majority of adults were from outside Ireland, with 45 per cent (3,328) recorded as Irish; 25 per cent (1,804) from the UK or EEA and 30 per cent (2,181) from outside the EEA.
In Dublin, where the highest numbers of homeless people are, 10,701 people, including 3,388 children in 1,499 families, were accessing emergency accommodation last month. These compare with 10,481 people, including 3,273 children in 1,467 families, in August.
Also on Friday the department published the third quarterly report for the year, showing between July and September 1,604 households, including 480 families with children, came into emergency accommodation.
In the same period, however, 699 households, including 327 families, exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created, and 979 households, including 504 families, who were facing homelessness were prevented from entering emergency accommodation following assistance from local authorities and agencies funded by them.
The most common reasons given by the 1,604 households entering emergency accommodation was notice of termination by a private landlord (428); followed by relationship breakdown, which could include overcrowding (400); leaving direct provision (193) and leaving an institution, such as prison, hospital or care (106).
Overcrowding was cited in 84 cases; leaving an informal tenancy (74), Irish resident returning from abroad (12), substance misuse (12), and entrenched rough sleeper (22).
Reacting to what is likely to be the last homelessness data before a general election is called, charities such as Focus Ireland called on next government to “make a radical shift in housing policy to tackle the ever-deepening homelessness crisis”.
Pat Dennigan, chief executive of Focus Ireland, said: “With homelessness rising virtually every month for the last three years, the Government seems to have concluded that this is a problem that cannot be solved and no new measures are needed.
“Homelessness was not even referred to in the main budget speeches. But there is plenty of evidence of policies can make a difference and homelessness is a solvable problem.
“We are calling on all political parties make the Housing Commission report central to their manifestos and to clearly set out what measures they will take to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis.”
He continued: “Too often the political debate on housing and homelessness has been characterised by point-scoring and finger-pointing; what people want are realistic and deliverable solutions. The future of over 4,000 children trapped in homelessness depends upon the ability of our political parties to rise to this challenge.”
Erene Williamson, the Salvation Army’s homeless services Ireland lead, said: “As the country prepares for a general election, every candidate, sitting TD or not, should be left in no doubt as to the massive challenges which lie ahead. Homelessness must be the number-one priority in this country.
“The incoming government needs to bring a fresh, dynamic approach as what we have seen so far has failed to make a dent in these grim monthly statistics, behind which are real people with hopes and dreams like everyone else.”
Catherine Kenny, chief executive of Dublin Simon Community said: “The lack of an integrated response by the Government is one of, if not the, key issue with today’s record numbers. Since the Dáil was last dissolved in 2020, homelessness has increased by 41 per cent.
“While there is no silver bullet, a future government needs to deliver a real integrated response. This must be a combined effort across government departments, in areas including health, equality, social protection and others.”
Sinn Féin spokesman on housing Eoin Ó Broin said: “The Government must immediately reinstate the temporary ban on evictions where the tenant has done nothing wrong. If they do not do this then homelessness is likely to hit 15,000 by the end of the year.
“Ultimately the only way we will start to tackle the ever-deepening homelessness crisis is with a change of government and a change of housing plan,” he said.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to our Inside Politics podcast for the best political chat and analysis
