In a distressing surge, Ireland has witnessed a grim milestone in homelessness as January 2024 marks an all-time high, with 13,531 individuals living in emergency accommodations. State data reveals a disheartening 15% increase from the previous year. Among the afflicted, 9,504 are adults, while a heartbreaking 4,027 are children experiencing the harsh reality of emergency housing. Dublin bears the brunt, hosting 73% of the state’s homeless population. Shockingly, 197 individuals aged over 65 find themselves registered as homeless.
The stark figures, however, exclude refugees, asylum seekers, women in refuge centers, the ‘hidden homeless,’ or those enduring life on the streets. As Ireland grapples with this escalating crisis, urgent attention is required to address the systemic issues contributing to this record-breaking surge in homelessness.