Homeless figures down slightly from record high

Homelessness figures for August 2023 show 12,691 people in emergency accommodation across Ireland, a fall of 156 from last month’s figures.

The statistics come with the caveat of a misstatement of last month’s figures in Dublin, where those who had left accommodation weren’t recorded as doing so. 

“The Dublin figures for August 2023 show a reduction of 308 single adults. This reduction is due to the correction of past data and not a significant change in presentations and/or exits to tenancy,” says the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive.

Commenting on the figures, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said “reliable, accurate and accessible data is vital to the work of my Department and in maintaining public trust.”

“Any statistical errors are concerning and we have put in place a number of processes to ensure the integrity of the data going forward. I will review and expedite any recommendations arising from this work to uphold robust data collection in this vital area.”

Dublin Simon Community is concerned that this trend, in tandem with a shortage of affordable housing and financial pressures from the cost of living crisis, will lead to one of the worst winter periods ever for people in crisis.

CEO Catherine Kenny said “we have reached the point where people can do everything they are told is the right thing to do and still find themselves without a home; this is an issue affecting people across all demographics and communities.”

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan, who serves as the party’s housing spokesperson, said “the latest figures show there are now 12,691 people living in homeless emergency accommodation. Tragically, 3,895 of these are children, while 176 are pensioners.”

“The 156 drop from last month, unfortunately, doesn’t mean there was a fall in the number of people becoming homeless. Rather, it represents another failure in the State’s ability to deal with the homelessness crisis.”

“The Department of Housing has admitted that the homeless figures have been miscounted by about 300 for some time now. This is the first month that the figures have been adjusted to account for this mistake.”

O’Callaghan said “the grim reality is that homelessness, in real terms, has continued to rise for 19 of the last 20 months under this Government. This catastrophic failure is having profoundly negative impacts on people’s lives.”

“The Government need to start treating this crisis with the urgency it deserves.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said “politics is about choices, and so far, Government have made all the wrong ones – the callous lifting of the temporary no-fault eviction ban, the failure to invest in increased supply of apprentices and construction workers, the lack of ambition on building the level of housing that Ireland desperately needs – it’s just not good enough.”

“There are children with no home to go to after school, people couch surfing with friends, hostel accommodation, moving from one place to another. It’s outrageous and the buck stops with Minister O’Brien and this Government,” she said.

“At a time of unprecedented economic growth, Government incompetence, escalating house prices and the high cost of living have contributed to a situation where Ireland is now among the most expensive countries in the world. These factors have also had a knock-on effect of forcing more and more people onto the streets. 12,691 people know the cruel reality of this only too well.”