More than 10,000 adults accessing emergency accommodation for first time

The number of people in emergency homeless accommodation has reached a new record high of 14,429, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing.

Data released on Friday afternoon shows that 10,028 adults and 4,401 children were accessing emergency accommodation during the last week of July.

It is the first time there has been more than 10,000 adults accessing emergency accommodation managed by local authorities.

The latest figures also reveal that there were a total of 2,096 families.

The figures do not include people sleeping rough, those that may be couch surfing or homeless in hospitals or prisons, or those who are in shelter for asylum seekers or domestic violence centres.

Of the 10,028 adults, 61% were male and 39% were female. Overall, two thirds were classified as single adults.

Of the 2,096 families, 1,205 were single-parent groups.

Record high levels of people accessing emergency accommodation are “another grim homelessness record” for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Sinn Fein has said.

A Sinn Fein housing spokesman said: “It is quite clear at this stage that the government’s housing plan is not working. In fact it is making things worse.

“More adults, children, families, single people and pensioners are homeless today than when this Government took office four years ago.

“Only a change of government and Sinn Fein’s alternative housing plan will address Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s homeless crisis.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the latest figures are “utterly heartbreaking” as she called for increased State involvement in housing delivery.

She said: “The tragic result is that we now have thousands of children growing up without a place to call home. This government has utterly thrown in the towel on housing, leaving our most vulnerable to suffer.”

Focus Ireland warned that “childhoods are being stolen” as the school year returns.

The charity’s chief executive Pat Dennigan said: “Summer is meant to be a carefree time for children, but the harsh reality is that thousands of kids have just started a new school year coming from emergency accommodation such as hotels and family hubs.

“It is wrong that this is happening. As a society we must demand that much more is done to protect children whose childhoods are being stolen one day at a time. We are working hard with the State to support these children but what they need is a home.”

Focus Ireland said nearly 900 families have now been homeless for more than a year, with more than 400 of these families without a home for more than two years.

The group has engaged with Taoiseach Simon Harris on various housing initiatives, such as social housing.

Mr Dennigan added: “We hope the Taoiseach will now drive more co-ordinated action on this issue and act to implement a policy that ensures more of the new supply of social housing is used to provide homes for long-term homeless families.

“This same approach drove the sharp fall in homelessness during the pandemic and we should learn from this approach. We passionately believe that it is possible to reduce and then end homelessness if the right actions are taken.”

The Simon Communities of Ireland has said the country “can get ahead of the crisis” amid a seventh consecutive monthly increase in emergency accommodation figures.

In the 12 months since July 2023, the data shows an increase of 1,582 people (12%) in emergency homeless accommodation.

The homelessness charity highlighted a 14% year-on-year increase in families accessing such services, alongside a 15% rise in children in emergency accommodation.

Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: “In the face of this seemingly relentless growth, it is important that we do not lose sight of the fact that we can get ahead of this crisis.”

He added: “In that fight, the next six months will be critical. With the upcoming Budget and general election, there are opportunities to deliver the decisive action that can see strides taken to address the homelessness crisis.”

Catherine Kenny, chief executive officer of Dublin Simon, criticised the Government’s action regarding homelessness heading into “the colder winter months”.

There were 7,198 adults and 3,289 children accessing services in Dublin.

Ms Kenny said: “As the days grow shorter and colder, the urgency of addressing the homeless crisis becomes even more pressing. Budget 2025 is just over a month away.

“Coupled with a looming general election and no guarantee that homeless figures will decrease before then, there is an urgent need for comprehensive, co-ordinated action to address the root causes of homelessness and alleviate the strain on emergency accommodation resources.”