Election 2024: Ending homelessness must be 'top priority' for next government

Advocates are calling for a significant increase in the delivery of social homes.

If the next Government is to follow through on a commitment to eradicate homelessness by 2030, it will have to “hit the ground running with a slate of initiatives”, experts have said.

Paul Sheehan, head of campaigns and communications at Cork Simon, said ending homelessness in Ireland must be a “top priority” for the next Government, as latest figures show the number of people in emergency accommodation in Ireland is nearing 15,000.

“As the housing and homelessness crisis continues, more and more people are being impacted,” he said.

A new government presents a unique opportunity to truly prioritise housing and homelessness as the social issue of our times.

Under the last Government’s tenure, homelessness has surged sharply. Many months of 2024 have been marked by new record numbers of homeless in this country.

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While the majority of people recorded as homeless are based in Dublin, the figures show Cork has the next highest number of adults in emergency accommodation at 549.

In September 2024, the last month for which figures are available, there were 14,760 people in emergency accommodation. This figure included 4,561 children from 2,133 families.

While the majority of people recorded as homeless are based in Dublin, the figures show Cork has the next highest number of adults in emergency accommodation at 549. Furthermore, 183 children in the South-West region, comprising both Cork and Kerry, are homeless.

In announcing the most recent figures, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said “ultimately, increased housing supply will be the solution to this challenge”.

“As we wait for this supply to take hold, supporting individuals and families facing homelessness will remain a top priority for this Government,” he said.

Among the calls from advocates in this sector is for the right to housing to be enshrined in the Constitution.

While a report from the Housing Commission, established by the Government and made up of experts across the length and breadth of housing delivery in this country, recommended wording for such a referendum, a minority of the commission’s members said a referendum was not needed.

Mr Sheehan, however, said a referendum on a right to housing was needed “at the earliest opportunity”, while a dedicated role in Government was needed for homelessness.

“It would act as a driving force for the policy changes that are necessary to tackle homelessness,” he said.

“The next government must [also] have a minister of state with responsibility for homelessness, with the necessary powers to drive and implement cross-departmental action to tackle homelessness.” 

Another key ask, and one which is being promised across the board by political parties, is a significant increase in the delivery of social homes.

Research at Cork Simon has shown the pressure on both single adults and families who are at risk of homelessness, with the private rental sector having 'all but collapsed as a route out of homelessness' to such an extent it is now a 'gateway to homelessness'.

Mr Sheehan said adequate, secure, and affordable housing would be essential in moving people out of homelessness quickly and to significantly reduce the risk of people being pushed into such a situation.

“The recent Housing Commission report identified the need for housing to be a unique national priority,” he said. 

“We welcome its assessment that an emergency response is required to address the undersupply of housing, and that a radical reset of housing policy is needed to achieve it.

By now, we are all familiar with the devastating impact homelessness has on the lives of men, women and children. Long-term homelessness is increasing. Families are impacted. Communities are impacted. Our social cohesion and economic development are at risk.

He pointed to research at Cork Simon, which has shown the pressure on both single adults and families who are at risk of homelessness, with the private rental sector which has “all but collapsed as a route out of homelessness” to such an extent it is now a “gateway to homelessness”.

Mr Sheehan added the new Government can seize the opportunity to take the radical action needed to address this crisis.

“It is an opportunity to underpin social cohesion, economic development and secure a better future for every man, woman and child in the State,” he said. “We believe we deserve nothing less."