Fifth monthly rise in homelessness sparks call for pandemic-style response

Focus Ireland pointed out that there are 2,334 more people homeless than a year ago, a 29% increase. File photo

The number of people homeless has risen once again, this time to 10,325, with a 41% increase in child homelessness in just a year and warnings that the cost-of-living crisis could push more families into emergency accommodation.

The latest monthly report issued by the Department of Housing shows there were 7,297 adults and 3,028 children in emergency accommodation in May, up from 10,049 in April. Two-thirds of homeless adults are male and more than half are aged 25 to 44, with another 17% aged between 18 and 24.