Homelessness figures have once again reached an all-time high.
The Department of Housing’s latest report reveals 14,760 people in emergency accommodation nationally, with 10,701 in Dublin alone – a 14% year-on-year increase in the city.
This includes 1,499 families, 3,388 children, and 4,726 single adults.
The nationwide figure is a 15% increase on the same time last year.
These figures do not account for those rough sleeping, individuals in domestic violence shelters, refugees, or asylum seekers on our streets.
These figures also exclude those in hidden homelessness: people sleeping in cars, staying with friends, on sofas, or in unsuitable conditions.
Housing Minister
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, says: "What we see in the September 2024 Monthly Homeless Report is a further increase in the number of individuals accessing emergency accommodation and I understand and appreciate that this rise can be hard to understand in the face of record social homes being delivered and despite the extraordinary progress being made in the numbers of people being supported to exit homelessness and the numbers being prevented from entering homelessness in the first place.
"During Q3 this year, 700 households exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. That’s a significant increase of 23.5% in household exits.
"With regard to preventing people entering homelessness, almost 980 households were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created for them in the same quarter. Again, this a significant increase - over 37%.
"Nevertheless, the fact that the overall numbers have risen underlines the pressures that remain.
"Ultimately, increased housing supply will be the solution to this challenge. The housing pipeline is incredibly strong. Over 37,600 homes commenced in the first eight months of 2024- a 76% increase on the same period last year and equivalent to an average of 224 new homes commencing every working day to the end of August.
"As we wait for this supply to take hold, supporting individuals and families facing homelessness will remain a top priority for this Government."
"Lack Of Response"
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, says: "The lack of an integrated response by the Government is one of, if not the, key issue with today’s record numbers. Since the Dáil was last dissolved in 2020, homelessness has increased by 41%.
"With the confirmation of an election before Christmas, the people affected by this crisis, homeless or at risk, can only watch from the margins to see if they will be a priority for the next Government.
"Today’s record-breaking figures, combined with those at risk of losing their home or those who cannot afford one, need to be the highest priority in national and local Government solutions to homelessness.
"While there is no silver bullet, a future Government needs to deliver a real integrated response. This must be a combined effort across Government departments, in areas including health, equality, social protection and others.
"Recommendations from the Housing Commission report, revised targets on housing delivery and recent recommendations by the Dublin City Taskforce should be debated as to their merits and possibilities.
"As the temperature drops with the changing of the seasons, the demands on emergency accommodation will only increase."
