The number of people living in emergency accommodation in the Republic reached an unprecedented 15,418 last month, including 4,675 children, according to official figures released by the Department of Housing.
The March statistics show a modest increase of 40 people compared to February’s figure of 15,378, with 22 of these being children. January’s total stood at 15,286, including 4,603 children. Experts believe the actual number of homeless individuals is significantly higher, as the monthly figures exclude rough sleepers, those in domestic violence refuges, people in Direct Provision, and individuals who are couch-surfing.
The Simon Communities of Ireland highlighted the alarming growth of homelessness over the past four years, noting that the figure has nearly doubled from 8,060 in 2020. “If we’re serious about ending homelessness by 2030, we need to start treating it like the crisis it is,” said Ber Grogan, the charity’s executive director.
Opposition parties have been vocal in their criticism of the government’s approach. Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin O Broin called the increase “a direct consequence of the failure of the Government to address this ever-deepening housing and homelessness crisis,” while also criticizing cuts to funding for local authority social housing acquisitions.
Labour TD Conor Sheehan described the situation as “a national scandal,” attributing it to “Government failure to treat housing as the emergency it clearly is.” Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne warned that “rising levels of homelessness will continue to outpace any social and affordable housing delivery from the State unless there is a radical shift in Government policy.”
The housing crisis has intensified in recent years with house prices and rents surging, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, as demand continues to outstrip supply. Despite increased building targets, the government has consistently missed its overall and social housing objectives, with the Central Bank of Ireland warning that the State is likely to miss its housing targets for the next three years as well.