Focus Ireland Calls on Government to Prioritise Families Trapped in Long-term Homelessness for Social Housing as Homelessness Hits Record High of 14,429 

• A total of 4,401 children now homeless as schools return after the Summer  

Focus Ireland has called for urgent government action as the number of people homeless has increased to a record total of 14,429 for July 2024. 

This is an increase of 126 people from the previous month and a stark 12% rise in the last year since July 2023. The Department of Housing figures also show 4,401 children and 2,096 families homeless. The number of children homeless has risen 15% since July last year. 

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “Summer is meant to be a carefree time for children, but the harsh reality is that thousands of kids have just started a new school year coming from emergency accommodation such as hotels and family hubs.’’ 

“It is wrong that this is happening.  As a society we must demand that much more is done to protect children whose childhoods are being stolen one day at a time.  We are working hard with the State to support these children but what they need is a home.” 

Focus Ireland said that family homelessness continues to rise primarily because families are finding it harder than ever to secure a home and move out of homelessness.  This means that not only are more families homeless, but many are now trapped in homelessness for longer than ever. Nearly 900 families have now been homeless for more than a year. Over 400 of these families have been homeless for more than two years. 

There has been some positive news as Focus Ireland – in partnership with the State – has helped over 100 families to secure a home in the past three months and leave homelessness. A key reason for this is that there has been some better access to social housing coming on stream for families who are long-term homeless.  However, the numbers homeless are still rising as so many families and individuals are still losing their homes every month. 

Meanwhile, Focus Ireland met with the Taoiseach last month to explore this very issue and welcomed that Mr. Harris said he is “very keen” to see how social housing can be better allocated in the Government’s updated housing initiatives in the coming months. 

Mr. Dennigan said: “We had a constructive meeting with the Taoiseach last month and he said he wants to see the way social housing is allocated examined before the publication of the updated Housing for All plan.  He wants local authorities to review how they prioritise people for the allocation of a social home, and can more be done there to recognise people who have been homeless for a significant period of time.” 

 Mr. Dennigan concluded: “We hope the Taoiseach will now drive more coordinated action on this issue and act to implement a policy that ensures more of the new supply of social housing is used to provide homes for long-term homeless families.  This same approach drove the sharp fall in homelessness during the pandemic and we should learn from this approach.  We passionately believe that it is possible to reduce and then end homelessness if the right actions are taken.” 

Media contact:  Roughan Mac Namara – 086 85 15 117