16,614 people availed of homeless services across Ireland in September 2025, breaking the previous all-time record high.
The figure is an increase from the previous set of figures of 16,353.
8,065 of the overall national figure was in Dublin, enough to fill Dalymount Park, Donnybrook Stadium or Richmond Park.
5,238 children were in homeless services across Ireland in September 2025.
In August 2021, homeless figures stood at 8,141 nationwide, with 2,189 of those figures being children, marking a doubling of the figures in four years.
The homeless crisis has plagued the last few governments; in 2018, then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar declared the crisis was an “emergency” when figures were sitting below 10,000 nationwide.
After the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban in March 2023, homeless figures, which had seen a sharp decline during that temporary measure, started to see a steady rise again.
The lifting of the ban directly led to the situation that has plagued the government in 2025, with all-time record high figures being set multiple times.
Sinn Féin TD and housing spokesperson Eóin Ó Broin noted, “when all those in emergency accommodation and rough sleepers are taken into account, the figure is closer to 22,000, and that doesn’t take into account the hidden homeless; sofa surfing or those living in overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation.”
The Dublin Mid-West TD noted that Minister for Housing James Browne is due to publish his new housing plan in the coming weeks.
Ó Bróin said, “this new plan must prioritise ending long-term homelessness by 2030. To achieve this, the plan must include a dramatic increase in funding for and targets for social and affordable housing.”
“If the government fails to do this, homelessness will continue to rise and the government’s repeated claim to be prioritising housing and homelessness will be exposed for the lie that it is.”
Social Democrats TD and housing spokesperson Rory Hearne said, “these numbers are the direct result of policy choices made by the government. This is what happens when you do not protect vulnerable renters, or prevent them from becoming homeless.”
The Dublin North-West TD said, “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael policy has created this disaster by privatising social housing delivery to the private rental market. In parallel, they have allowed rents to rise astronomically to incentivise investor funds.”
“Government paralysis on housing cannot continue. We need to see an immediate rent freeze and rent reduction mechanisms put in place, alongside a ramping-up of social and affordable housing delivery, to end the State’s over-reliance on HAP.”
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said the figures are “nothing short of shameful.”
“Homelessness remains at record levels heading into another winter. Every number represents a person without the security of a home. What’s needed is a comprehensive set of measures that combines efforts across housing, health and social care, specific to those in emergency accommodation.”
Kenny said, “we cannot afford further delays; the time for action is now,” in relation to the government’s plan to tackle the homeless crisis.