Homeless figures up from all-time record

Homeless figures for March 2024 sit at 13,866; the highest since records began.

The figure 13,866 are an increase from 13,841 in the previous round of figures.

Of those figures, 10.180 of those are in Dublin.

In perspective, Northside communities such as Rusk and Portmarnock have populations of roughly 11,000 according to the last census.

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien said in January “those without a home remain the top priority for this Government.”

In 2018, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar declared homelessness a “national emergency.”

The latest stat breakdown from the Department of Housing show that 55% of homeless people in Ireland are Irish citizens, 23% are from the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, while the remaining 22% are from non-European Economic Area countries.

73% of all homeless people nationally are in Dublin, equating to 1,453 families, 4,487 single adults, and 3181 children.

Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon, expressed her dismay at the alarming statistics, stating “behind these numbers lie stories of heartbreak and struggle, and the daily and nightly routine of homelessness is starkly evident.”

“The escalating trend of adults and children seeking emergency accommodation each day and night is untenable. Prolonged stays in emergency shelters strip away hope, leaving deep scars on mental and physical health. The impact on children is immeasurable, robbing them of their security and stability in some of their most important developmental years.”

“This is not merely a failure of the system; it is a failure of compassion. Each person experiencing homelessness in Dublin represents a painful testament to the failures of our society to provide for its most vulnerable members. They deserve more than temporary solutions and empty promises. They deserve homes.’’

“At Dublin Simon Community, we believe that building housing units is crucial, but holistic support for individuals is equally important. As concerned members of the community, it is our duty to demand action from our leaders and policymakers.”

“We believe that real commitment is needed from our new Taoiseach and his government to ensure that their promises will become reality over the next 12 months, and that homelessness is flattened or reduced. We implore Cabinet to prioritise tackling the homelessness crisis and commit to implementing comprehensive strategies and effective policies to ensure that every individual and family has access to safe and stable housing.’’

Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan said “it is astonishing that Minister Darragh O’Brien welcomed this news because it only represents a ‘small increase’ compared to the huge jumps he has become accustomed to.”

“Twenty-five extra people suffering the trauma of becoming homeless is not something to be welcomed,” he said.

“The highest levels of homelessness in the history of the State is no cause for celebration, however the Minister’s attitude is a mirror of what we have long seen from this Government.”

“They have had nearly four years to tackle homelessness and have turned a crisis into a disaster.”