The final homeless report of 2024 from the Department Of Housing reported a decline in people availing of homelessness services across Ireland – but marked a rise in figures in the Dublin region.
The nationwide figure for December 2024 is 14,864, with 10,686 in Dublin.
The Dublin Simon Community has noted that 10,686 figure is a 9% year-on-year increase compared to 2023.
The overall November 2024 figures published by the Department of Housing showed that 15,199 people were availing of homeless services in Ireland in November, up from October’s figure of 14,966.
Both figures were all-time records for people availing of homeless services in Dublin.
December’s numbers mark the first national decrease in months – the previous releases have all shown an increase in homeless numbers in Ireland, all of which have been record highs.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said “while we welcome the slight decrease in the number of people in emergency accommodation around the country, we are still unable to accept the injustice of almost 15,000 without a place to call home. This figure represents a 12% increase on the number in emergency accommodation compared to December 2023. As one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we cannot and should not tolerate a society where so many are left without the basic human necessity of shelter.”
“The Government should take little comfort in the minor reduction in the numbers in emergency accommodation services. It is not uncommon for these numbers to dip around Christmas time as some people find other places to stay. A partial decrease does not take away from the fact that there are thousands without the comfort of a home.”
“Dublin Simon Community will continue to advocate for the many people experiencing homelessness and will continue to hold the Government to account. We believe it is the responsibility of this new cabinet, taking an interdepartmental approach, to sufficiently address this crisis in a way that previous administrations have failed to. It is time for those in power to remember those without it and finally invest in workable solutions,” she said.