Irish homelessness figures hit record high of 10,805

The Department of Housing has published figures today showing that the number of homeless people in Ireland has reached 10,805. This is a new record high, up 32% from last August, and includes 3,339 children.

Focus Ireland has warned that without action, the crisis will only get worse. With the winter approaching, supply is at an all time low. Budget 2023 failed to take action to stop landlords leaving the rental market, which causes increased eviction from rented homes.

The CEO of Focus Ireland, Pat Dennigan, said, “As the numbers keep going up, there is a risk that Government comes to treat homelessness as inevitable, but it is the result of bad political choices and can be solved by the right policies."

He continued, "The number of landlords selling up has had a huge negative effect on the monthly homeless figures and the government has failed to respond to a catastrophe which we – and their own data – have been warning them about for months. Landlords seeking to sell issued eviction notices to over 1,000 households in the first half of this year alone."

There are even more homeless people not counted in the official figures, such as couch surfers and families 'doubling up' with friends/family.

The August figures report 1,483 families with 3,339 children homeless, leaving child homelessness is up 47% from last year.

55% of the almost 1,500 families in homelessness in August were single parent families.

Think about that for a minute.

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) September 30, 2022

"Focus Ireland will continue to help people find homes, but it is difficult to see homeless services being able to cope with the sheer demand of people that need our support. This unprecedented crisis needs an immediate emergency response," added Dennigan.