Homeless figures pass 11,000 in Dublin for the first time 

As numbers continue to rise, the Government needs to invest in the solutions that will reverse the crisis and prevent people falling into homelessness. 

Dublin, 25th April 2025: 

The latest homeless figures paint a grim picture: for the first time in history, there are more than 11,000 people living in emergency accommodation in Dublin alone. Nationwide, over 15,000 find themselves without a home. The capital’s total is almost the equivalent of the entire population of a town like Longford, for example—every man, woman and child—living in what should be short-term accommodation. 

And furthermore, these numbers only tell part of the story. 

Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, explained, “Emergency accommodation is limited. Beds are full or near capacity. People can only access it when someone else leaves or a new space opens up. That means this staggering figure isn’t rising in line with need—it’s capped by space, not by demand. In other words, many more are left to rough sleep or live in unsafe and unsuitable conditions in hidden homelessness. We have a crisis that should shock the conscience of the country and especially of those who run it. When the number of people living in emergency shelters matches the population of a whole town, something is deeply broken. We must not allow ourselves to normalise this level of human suffering.” 

The latest data from the Department of Housing shows a staggering 8% year-on-year increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation in Dublin.  

The latest report also includes 1,546 families and 3,487 children, and 4,824 single adults living in emergency accommodation in Dublin, a figure that does not even account for those rough sleeping, refugees, asylum seekers, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those in hidden homelessness—people sleeping in cars, on couches, or in unsuitable living conditions. 

Kenny added: “These aren’t just numbers—they’re lives. The fact that homelessness isn’t growing faster isn’t a sign of success. It’s a sign that our emergency services are stretched to the limit, and people are being pushed into hidden homelessness because there’s simply nowhere else to go. We urgently need a new direction. That means sustained investment in prevention, housing and health supports, and a commitment to never let homelessness become an accepted feature of our society.” 

“The Government needs to prioritise solutions that will actually make a difference for those stuck in emergency accommodation and those at risk of needing it. What we need to see is sufficient funding for the housing and health solutions that will help people exit homelessness and prevent them from facing it in the first place. Given the recent upending of international trade arrangements, it is now even more important to invest in housing infrastructure that can be safeguarded from the volatility of the global economy.” 

Dublin Simon is once again calling on the Government to recognise homelessness as a national crisis and to respond to it as the emergency it is.