Homelessness rises again as Government fails to meet social housing targets and closes down effective prevention scheme
Record Numbers of Children Without a Home as Schools Reopen After Easter, Warns Focus Ireland
New figures issued by the Department of Housing today show a further increase in homelessness of 40 people for March 2025 to a new record high total of 15,418 people homeless. For the same month there are also 22 more children, and 27 more families compared to Feb 2025. (4653 children and 2185 families for February 2025).
The Quarterly Homeless Report for Q1 2025 shows the number of households prevented from entering homelessness falling by an alarming 45.8%, partly driven by the reduction in the tenant in situ scheme from 393 households supported in Q4 2024 to 170 in Q1 2025.
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “Today’s further increase in the number of people who are homeless is directly related to the announcement this week that the Government had failed to meet its target for new social housing, and the earlier announcement that a key homeless prevention programme had closed for the year due to budget cuts.
“For years Focus Ireland has been arguing that homelessness is not inevitable but is a consequence of the policies in place – and could be solved with better policies. We could not have a clearer demonstration of this than today’s figures. The Government fell nearly 1,500 homes short of its 9,300 social housing target last year because it chose to choke off momentum in the approved housing sector by not signing off on funding for pipeline projects. Similarly, budget restrictions in the Tenant in Situ scheme, which successfully prevents homelessness when landlords decide to sell up, will inevitability result in people becoming homeless who would otherwise have remained securely housed.
“Increases in homelessness are the predictable consequence of the choices the Government is making and the policies it is choosing. We have a new Minister, now we need new policies.
“The human consequence of these policy decisions is that, as schools reopen this Monday after the Easter break, 4675 children wlll be facing the daily reality of life in emergency accommodation—many without a quiet space to do their homework or simply be children. This distressing situation is a stark indictment of our homeless crisis, and we must not lose sight of the fact that it is entirely preventable. If the Government had continued to fund the Tenant in situ homeless prevention scheme we would have seen homelessness fall this month.
He adds: “The Government and Minister Housing James Browne need to not only ensure that social housing building targets are met but also ensure that a fair portion of the new social housing that is available is designated specifically for families who have been homeless long-term. Such a targeted approach was instrumental in significantly reducing homelessness during the pandemic and has been crucial in Focus Ireland’s recent success in increasing the number of families we supported out of homelessness over the last 12 months. If we fail to apply the lessons from what has proven effective, the number of families and children enduring long-term homelessness will continue to increase each month, despite the valuable efforts of Focus Ireland, other NGOs, and the State to support more households out of homelessness.”
Contact: Mike Allen, Director of Advocacy 087 2305869