Homelessness in Ireland surpasses 17,000 for first time
Michael Bolton
The number of homeless people in Ireland has exceeded 17,000 for the first time.
There were 17,112 people in emergency accommodation in January: 11,793 adults and 5,319 children.
The figure includes 2,555 families, of which 1,442 are single-parent families.
It comes after the monthly numbers dipped slightly in the previous month, which usually happens at Christmas.
The Simon Communities of Ireland says this increase at the start of another year, compounded by a worrying rise in the number of single adults experiencing homelessness across Ireland, is deepening this national crisis.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: “With the 2030 target to end homelessness in plain sight, it is unacceptable that this crisis is deepening, particularly among single adults who now make up nearly three-quarters of all households experiencing homelessness.
“The Government’s current plan is failing this largest cohort in emergency beds, with potentially long-term impacts on their mental and physical wellbeing.
"This is a key concern for all the Simon Communities across Ireland. While the new Housing Plan has a welcome focus on children and family homelessness, we simply cannot allow for single adults to be forgotten about and by-passed when investing in solutions.
“Everyone has a right to a safe home and the dignity that comes with it. There needs to be a sustained focus on single adults as part of the wider plan. We urgently need a dedicated single-adult homelessness strategy and a rapid supply of one-bed units.”
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has said it is “deeply concerned” that over 2,000 young people aged 18–24 are currently living in emergency accommodation, representing 17.4 per cent of adults in homelessness.
Grace McManus, NYCI Campaigns Manager, said:“These figures represent a profound failure to protect young people at a critical stage in their lives. No young person should be forced into homelessness because they cannot afford rent or access the supports they need.
"This situation is not inevitable, and it can be addressed through a rapid policy response and action from Government that tackles the unique causes and challenges facing young people.
“The Government’s three-year youth homelessness strategy covering 2023 to 2025 has now ended. Out of a total of 27 actions, only eight have been officially marked as complete. Missed actions must be reviewed and updated, and successes such as the Supported Housing for Youth programme must be expanded.
“A successor plan must now be committed to and developed, with more ambitious targets and actions to drastically reduce youth homelessness levels.
“It’s unacceptable that youth homelessness is becoming normalised. We are urging the Minister and Government to significantly increase attention and action on youth homelessness, alongside all other cohorts of people experiencing homelessness today.”
