Focus Ireland has called for a “radical shift” in government policy as the Coalition prepares to publish its new housing and homelessness strategy later this month amid worsening crisis conditions.
The charity’s annual report reveals stark statistics highlighting the scale of Ireland’s housing emergency, with over 16,000 people currently homeless and the country set to miss its housing delivery targets. Focus Ireland alone supported 18,000 people last year who were either homeless or at risk of losing their homes.
Chief executive Pat Dennigan emphasized that homelessness results from policy choices rather than inevitability. “People need bold action, not broken promises,” he said at the report launch at Dublin’s Irish Architectural Archive. “Homelessness is not inevitable, but it is the result of choices made and it can be ended by making different, better choices.”
The charity achieved record results in 2024, helping 1,209 households escape homelessness – a 10% increase from the previous year. This included supporting 587 families, representing a 21% rise since 2023, while also assisting 7% more children than in the previous year.
Dennigan stressed that the government’s forthcoming strategy must fully integrate housing and homelessness policies while recognizing that ending homelessness requires comprehensive support beyond simply providing accommodation.
Chairwoman Katie Burke identified inflation rates and underfunded public services as key concerns that have become “even more urgent” as the crisis deepens.
In recent meetings with Housing Minister James Browne, Focus Ireland emphasized the need for integrated approaches that acknowledge the complex support requirements many homeless individuals face alongside their housing needs.
The charity’s call for radical policy change comes as Ireland grapples with one of Europe’s most severe housing crises, with traditional approaches proving inadequate to address the scale and complexity of current homelessness levels.