Dublin Simon Community Statement on September 2024 Homeless Figures
The record-breaking homelessness in Ireland has become a broken record. It’s time for a government to break the cycle.
The lack of an integrated response and the upcoming election announcement bring homelessness and housing demand back to the forefront of the debate
Dublin, 25th October 2024: It is a worrying time as the demand on homeless services will intensify in the coming weeks with the onset of winter. Against this backdrop, Ireland’s homelessness figures have once again reached an all-time high. The Department of Housing’s latest report reveals a staggering total of 14,760 people in emergency accommodation nationally, with 10,701 in Dublin alone – a 14% year-on-year increase in the capital.
This includes 1,499 families, 3,388 children, and 4,726 single adults —the latter accounting for almost half of the total. These figures, however, do not account for those rough sleeping, individuals in domestic violence shelters, refugees, or asylum seekers on our streets. These figures also exclude those in hidden homelessness: people sleeping in cars, staying with friends, on sofas, or in unsuitable conditions.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said, “The lack of an integrated response by the Government is one of, if not the, key issue with today’s record numbers. Since the Dáil was last dissolved in 2020, homelessness has increased by 41%.”
With the confirmation of an election before Christmas, the people affected by this crisis, homeless or at risk, can only watch from the margins to see if they will be a priority for the next Government. Today’s record-breaking figures, combined with those at risk of losing their home or those who cannot afford one, need to be the highest priority in national and local Government solutions to homelessness.
“While there is no silver bullet, a future Government needs to deliver a real integrated response. This must be a combined effort across Government departments, in areas including health, equality, social protection and others. Recommendations from the Housing Commission report, revised targets on housing delivery and recent recommendations by the Dublin City Taskforce should be debated as to their merits and possibilities,” added Kenny.
As the temperature drops with the changing of the seasons, the demands on emergency accommodation will only increase. “Despite the tireless work of Dublin Simon accommodating over 1,200 men, women and children per night in accommodation, homelessness continues to escalate.”
Dublin Simon Community remains steadfast in its commitment to providing support and relief, but without a genuine national strategy that goes beyond piecemeal measures, the crisis will only worsen. A transparent, integrated response is needed—and it is needed now.