Homelessness figures hit new record with 16,353 people without a home

Homelessness in Ireland has reached its highest level on record, with 16,353 people now officially counted as homeless in the latest figures from the Department of Housing.

The August report, released today, shows the number of people in emergency accommodation rose by 295 in just one month, including 131 children.

Compared with the same time last year, the overall figure has jumped by 1,867 people, an increase of almost 13%. Families have been particularly affected, with 2,391 recorded as homeless last month — nearly 300 more than in August 2024.

The number of children experiencing homelessness has also surged.

A total of 5,145 children are now living in emergency accommodation, an increase of 726 (16.4%) over the past year.

The milestone of 5,000 homeless children was passed for the first time in July, and the number has continued to rise.

Young adults are increasingly caught up in the crisis. A total of 1,950 people aged 18 to 24 were in emergency accommodation in August, up 12% compared with last year.

Among older people, 252 aged over 65 were recorded as homeless, a 12.5% rise year-on-year.

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) has said the Government must act to cut red tape and speed up the delivery of new homes if homelessness is to be reduced.

Responding to the latest figures, ICSH Director of Policy Ailbhe McLoughlin described the numbers as “a stark reminder of how seriously the upcoming budget and new housing plan must take Ireland’s homelessness situation.”

She said that approved housing bodies and housing associations nationwide were calling for urgent changes to the system.

“The Government must ensure the funding mechanisms in place for the delivery of supported housing for those experiencing homelessness are fit for purpose,” she said.

The ICSH is urging faster turnaround times for funding approvals, which it says can currently take well over a year before work even begins on site.

Despite the rising need, the number of supported housing solutions provided by its members fell by 10% last year.

“Behind today’s numbers — and the ones we see every month — are real people,” Ms McLoughlin added.

“If conditions are in place to enable AHBs to deliver more supported housing for the people and families in hostels, this will also help to prevent people becoming homeless again in the future.”

Also responding to the figures, The Salvation Army said Budget 2026 needs to prioritise homeless families to lessen the “devastating impact” emergency accommodation is having on parents and children.

The Christian church and charity said its family hubs in Dublin are already full to capacity.

“Some children are spending their entire early childhoods in emergency accommodation,” said Anthony Byrne, service manager at The Salvation Army’s largest family hub, Houben House in Harold’s Cross.

“While our staff do our best to support them, the impact on the family unit of long-term homelessness can be devastating and can cause far reaching consequences for youngsters in their early years and beyond.

“The dignity and welfare of children living in emergency accommodation is our key concern. The longer the stay in services the greater the impact to childhoods and children’s wellbeing.”

Mr Byrne said that without significantly increasing housing supply, many families will remain stuck in emergency accommodation or precarious rentals for years.

The Salvation Army is currently providing supports to 119 families living in its hubs across Dublin: Houben House (67), Greencastle in Coolock (28) and Clonard Road (24), including 303 children.

One of the largest providers of homeless accommodation in the capital, the charity delivers 250,000 bed nights per year across its six individual and family centres in Dublin.