Dublin Simon Community has said the latest Spring 2026 Spring Count of People who are Rough Sleeping in Dublin highlights the urgent need for a dedicated Dublin Housing and Homelessness Strategy.
The charity warns that the capital continues to carry the overwhelming burden of Ireland’s homelessness crisis.
The latest official count recorded 136 people sleeping rough in the Dublin Region during the week of the count, between 13th to 19th April 2026, representing a 12% increase in comparison to the same period in 2025.
The count was arranged by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and carried out by the Dublin Simon Community Outreach Team, which operates 365 days a year across the four Dublin local authorities. Additional Outreach workers were deployed to ensure comprehensive coverage of city centre areas.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community (pictured above), said, “Every person recorded in this count is a human being without the safety, dignity and stability of a home. They share three stark realities: sleeping rough, experiencing acute vulnerability, and having nowhere to call home. Shelter is a fundamental human right, and no one should have to bed down on the streets of our capital.”
Kenny added, “This is a reflection of Government policy that is not keeping pace with demand and a support system that needs great capacity to respond to increasingly complex needs. Unless we address these issues, the numbers bedding down on the street will continue to grow regardless of how many emergency responses we put in place. That’s why we are calling for a nationally led Dublin Housing and Homelessness strategy, backed by dedicated funding and coordinated delivery.”
Due to the intense work of front-line staff on the street continually engaging with individuals sleeping rough, 53% had accessed emergency accommodation at some point in the past three months and 115 (85%) had previously been assessed or were assessed during the count week by the local authority. Those assessed are registered in The Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), an online shared system utilised by every homeless service provider and all local authorities in Ireland.
Kenny said the findings must be viewed within the wider context of homelessness in Dublin.
“Our 2025 Annual Impact Report, launched last week, showed that the interactions made by our Outreach Team with those sleeping rough increased in 29% compared to the previous year, supporting people experiencing some of the most complex and challenging circumstances imaginable.
“No child, family or individual should be left without a safe place to stay, especially because of administrative barriers or delays in establishing eligibility. The priority must always be protecting people from the harm and trauma associated with homelessness while longer-term solutions are put in place. Progress is possible and achievable. But it requires continued commitment, investment and collaboration across housing, health and social care systems.”
Ahead of Budget 2027, in addition to a dedicated Dublin Housing and Homelessness Strategy, Dublin Simon Community is calling for increased investment in social housing to drive permanent exits from homelessness, alongside clear targets. In parallel, targeted funding is needed for long-term supported accommodation to ensure people with complex needs can access stable housing and the ongoing supports required to sustain it.
To support Dublin Simon’s work or to read our 2025 Annual Impact Report, visit www.dubsimon.ie