There were 12,259 registered homeless in Ireland in April – the highest figure the Department of Housing has ever recorded.  

This figure represents the amount of people in State-funded emergency accommodation and does not include those who are sleeping rough or among the ‘hidden homeless’ that are temporarily staying with family or friends. 

This figure also doesn’t include people in refuge centres and asylum seekers.  

Some 8,665 adults are registered as homeless nationally, along with over 3,500 children. 

The figures show 1,733 families living in emergency accommodation, of which more than half are single-parent families.

Dublin is the worst affected area in the country with 8,775 people in emergency accommodation - including more than 2,600 children. 

A woman walks past a billboard with posters protesting homelessness on Bow Lane, West Dublin, 11-03-2023. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Several politicians and charities have already expressed concerns about the rising figures.  

Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland Wayne Stanley said he is “sadly not surprised” to see homeless figures reach record levels.  

“But we have to be shocked that the situation has been allowed to get to this point,” he said.  

“The almost 6% increase in family and children in homeless emergency accommodation is particularly concerning.” 

Mr Stanley said the Simon Communities will send a pre-Budget submission to the Government to explain what is needed to reduce homelessness.  

"We need to renew ambition in the areas of homeless prevention, the provision of secure, affordable homes and addressing vacancy,” he said.

Eviction ban

Sinn Féin representative for housing Eoin Ó Broin said this is a significant increase in homelessness since the ban on no-fault evictions was lifted in April.  

“Today's figures confirm once again that the Government's decision to end the ban on no-fault evictions was wrong,” he said.  

“It also highlights the fact that they simply did not have the emergency measures in place to deal with the ending of the ban.” 

Deputy Ó Broin said reports from constituency offices across the State suggest the figure will rise further in the coming months.  

“The tenant-in-situ scheme is still moving too slowly. The output of social and affordable homes is too slow," he said.

"No additional supply of social housing using emergency planning and procurement powers has even been initiated."