Homelessness: A Deepening Emergency

Homelessness is becoming normalised. Each month brings a new record high in homelessness figures. The latest data indicate that 15,915 people, including almost 5,000 children, accessed emergency homeless accommodation in the week 23-29 June 2025. Family homelessness has more than doubled, rising by over 100 per cent (from 1,130 families in July 2016 to 2,230 in June 2025) since the beginning of the previous housing strategy, Rebuilding Ireland, and by 130 per cent since the introduction of Housing for All in September 2021.

And these are just the ‘official’ statistics. They do not include those staying with family and friends, they do not include rough sleepers, they do not include homeless families temporarily accommodated in housing owned by their Local Authority, they do not include the women and children in domestic violence refuges, and they do not include asylum seekers in transitional accommodation.

A Decade of Rising Costs and Ineffective Spending

A report published focus by Focus Ireland last year, A Decade of Homelessness Data: Significant Developments in Homelessness 2014–2023, offers an alarming view of both the human and financial cost of homelessness. Local Authorities spent a staggering €2.48 billion between 2009 and 2023 on homelessness services—€2.2 billion of that was between 2014 and 2023, a period in which the number of households in emergency accommodation grew by 224 per cent.

A closer look at 2024 Local Authority Regional Financial Reportsshows a critical imbalance in how resources are used. Local Authorities spent 18 times more on emergency accommodation (approx. €360 million) than homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement supports (approx. €20 million). Additionally, 70 per cent of emergency accommodation expenditure were on private emergency accommodation including commercial hotels and B&Bs (approx. €250 million). While another €16.3 million was spent on long-term supported accommodation,^[1] the continued overreliance on emergency accommodation as opposed to prevention supports and long-term solutions raises concerns about the sustainability and effectiveness of current homelessness spending, emphasising the urgent need for a shift toward prevention-focused policies and housing-first approaches.

Shifting Toward Prevention and Housing First

Social Justice Ireland welcomes the commitment in Programme for Government 2025 to end homelessness by 2030 and to prioritise social housing allocations for families experiencing long-term homelessness. However, given the current deficit in social housing, achieving this goal will be extremely challenging without a fundamental shift in strategy. This reiterates the urgent need to increase the social housing target to 20 per cent of total housing stock, to ensure a sufficient and sustainable supply for those most in need.

While expanding social housing is a long-term necessity, immediate action is required to reduce the growing number of people in emergency accommodation. One proven solution is the Housing First model, which offers permanent housing first, followed by wraparound support services. This approach has proved highly effective for single adults with complex needs and must now be extended and adapted to other groups, particularly families, who face unique challenges. Extending Housing First to families would help mitigate the serious developmental, educational, and health impacts that homelessness inflicts on children, while supporting long-term stability for the entire household.

Equally critical is a greater focus on prevention.In 2024, Local Authorities spent 18 times more on emergency accommodations than homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement supports. This reactive approach is both expensive and ineffective in addressing the root causes of homelessness. Addressing the key drivers of homelessness—such as unaffordable housing and income insecurity—would reduce long-term reliance on emergency accommodation and break the cycle of homelessness before it begins.

To effectively tackle homelessness, Social Justice Ireland calls for the following actions:

• Extend the Housing First model to families, ensuring housing is provided first, followed by tailored wraparound supports.
• Significantly increase funding for prevention, tenancy sustainment, and early intervention services within Local Authorities and homelessness service providers.
• Establish a national homelessness prevention framework, with defined responsibilities across health, social protection, housing, and education sectors.
• Develop child-focused supports for families experiencing homelessness, recognising the long-term developmental and psychological impact on children.
• Implement early warning and intervention systems to identify and respond to risks such as eviction notices, rent arrears, and sudden income loss.
• End the use of long-term emergency accommodation, particularly for children and families, by developing clear exit pathways and timelines for resettlement.
• Prioritise social housing allocations for households exiting homelessness, especially those experiencing long-term or family homelessness, and monitor these allocations transparently.

[1] Long Term Supported Accommodation is the provision of quality accommodation and effective supports on a long-term basis for persons who have sought assistance from homeless services and who have specialised health, care and social support needs.