There were 15,286 people registered as homeless in January, the Department of Housing has announced. 

The new record includes 4,603 children, who are growing up in B&Bs and hotels.

Housing charity Focus Ireland said it is important that homelessness is not normalised in the public consciousness. 

“Ireland is a wealthy country with a surplus that many nations envy and homelessness should not be seen as something we must accept,” CEO Pat Dennigan said,, 

“It’s important to remember that homelessness can be prevented and ended with the right policies.

“While these figures leave us even further away from the target of ending homelessness by 2030, it is crucial that Government does not let just give up.

“It is still possible to turn things around and achieve significant goals like ending long term homelessness by 2030.”

Homeless people in Dublin. Picture by: Conor Healy / Picture It Photography

However, Housing Minister James Browne has hinted the target of eradicating homeslessness by 2030 might not be achievable.

Acting leader of the Social Democrats Cian O'Callaghan said it demonstrated a lack of ambition from the Government. 

“We know there’s things that could be done to eradicate homelessness,” he said. 

“If you improve security of tenure for renters, for example, that takes a huge number of people out of homelessness. 

“So, this could be done if the Government are serious about it. 

“So, I think it’s a very regressive decision by the new Minister.” 

In January 2024, there were 13,531 homeless people - meaning homelessness has increased by 13% over the past year.

Main image: A homeless person. Picture by: Alamy.com