The number of men, women, and children facing homelessness rose in May compared to the previous month, reports RTE.
New data released by the Department of Housing reveals that 15,747 adults and children were living in emergency accommodation.
This marks an increase from April’s total of 15,580, reports RTE.
The number of children rose to 4,844 from 4,775, while adult figures climbed to 10,903 from 10,805.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the figures demonstrate that “the Government’s current approach to homelessness is failing”, reports RTE.
“There needs to be far more urgency in the Government’s response to help end this terrible human crisis,” he added, reports RTE.
Mr Dennigan urged the Government to reform the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and said it “must deliver a radical policy shift to provide a range of housing”.
‘We just heard this week that the new Housing and Homelessness Plan is now delayed until at least September,” Mr Dennigan said, reports RTE.
“We need action now and there are some actions the Government could take immediately to improve the situation,” he added, reports RTE.
The Dublin Simon Community said that while the housing crisis might be recognised politically, “its most devastating consequence – homelessness – remains overlooked”.
The organisation added that “there is doubt as to whether the Government cares about addressing the instability, harsh and immediate realities” of the homeless figures.
CEO of the Dublin Simon Community said the focus should be on creating stability to tackle the unpredictable housing market and ongoing shortages, reports RTE.
“All eyes are now focused on a housing plan and Budget 2026 as to what it will provide as incentives to kickstart a greater housing supply in a market that has plateaued,” Catherine Kenny said, reports RTE.
“As the new rental rules will do little to help those stuck in emergency accommodation, the next national housing plan, due in a few weeks, must bring meaningful measures for those who are experiencing homelessness,” she added, reports RTE.
Elsewhere, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland Ber Grogan said the organisation has repeatedly proposed solutions, but they’ve yet to be implemented with the urgency the crisis requires.
She called for strong and immediate intervention.
“We haven’t seen a decrease in homeless figures for five months – and the last drop was due to temporary seasonal relief over Christmas. This is not progress. We don’t want to keep breaking these records. Behind every number is a person – a family, a child, a life in crisis. The time to act is now,” she said, reports RTE.
DePaul, another homelessness charity, said that although the crisis has been acknowledged as “a national priority requiring immediate and radical action”, frontline services are not seeing that urgency reflected in action.
CEO David Carroll called the situation “hugely frustrating”, reports RTE.
He urged the Government to demonstrate a practical and urgent response to the issue.
“There are no quick fixes – this is time for systemic change and radical action,” he said, reports RTE.
The Salvation Army has warned that the true effect of homelessness on children won’t be fully understood until they become adults.
As one of Dublin’s main providers of homeless shelter, the charity said the latest data “paint another harrowing picture” of the worsening crisis.
Erene Williamson, the Salvation Army’s Homeless Services Ireland Lead, stressed the importance of putting the needs of children first, reports RTE.
“Children within homeless families will most likely experience trauma and a host of challenges growing up without a secure home,” she said, reports RTE.
Opposition parties Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have blamed the Government for the increasing homelessness statistics.
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the rise in child homelessness over the past ten years “is the direct result of the failure of Government to deliver a sufficient volume of social and affordable homes”, reports RTE.
The Social Democrats’ housing spokesperson described the child homelessness figures as “a shameful milestone”.
Rory Hearne called the situation “a direct result of policy choices made by the Government”, adding the failures are “intolerable and inexcusable”.
“The state could be facing a national redress scheme for children who have been in emergency accommodation,” he said, reports RTE.
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