Record 16,353 people, including more than 5,100 children, now homeless in Ireland

File picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

There were 16,353 people homeless in Ireland at the end of August this year, including 5,145 children, breaking a record yet again for the numbers in emergency accommodation in this country.

The Department of Housing’s latest update said that 11,208 adults were also homeless at the end of last month, with 2,391 families among those in emergency accommodation.

It is a rise from the figure recorded the month before, which in July stood at 16,058.

Last month, it was announced that the number of children who were homeless in Ireland exceeded 5,000 for the first time in what was described as a “dark” and “shameful” day.

As the numbers continue to worsen, advocates are pressing the Government to take meaningful action in next month’s budget to finally turn the tide on homelessness in Ireland.

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said that modest adjustments would not suffice, and a “bold and transformative” shift in housing was needed, along with a deadline for ending long-term family homelessness.

“We urgently need to see social housing supply increased to the Government’s new target of 12,000 homes per year,” he said.

“We have also urged the Government to take immediate steps in Budget 2026 to prevent more people from becoming homeless.

“This includes reviewing the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to ensure it reflects current market rents and restoring full funding to the Tenant-In-Situ scheme so that more households can be protected from losing their homes.

“In recent months, the scheme has been drastically scaled back, causing local authorities to pause purchases and leaving many tenants already homeless and countless others facing the real threat of eviction.” 

Dublin Simon CEO Catherine Kenny said that the Government cannot expect things to improve by acting the same way.

“Things needed to change long ago, but it is not too late for those in power to take decisive action,” she said.

“Budget 2026 must include a clear, cross-departmental plan to tackle homelessness as a housing, health, and social emergency. This cannot be solved in one year—what we expect is the start of sustained investment over the coming years.” 

Social Democrats housing spokesperson Rory Hearne described the figures as a “shameful milestone” and said urgent action must be taken.

“The budget must reinstate the full Tenant-In-Situ scheme and increase its funding so that local authorities can keep those facing eviction into homelessness in their homes and turn insecure private rental housing into social housing,” he said.

“These abject failures are intolerable and inexcusable — rising levels of homelessness will continue to outpace any social and affordable housing delivery from the State unless there is a radical shift in government policy.”

Speaking in New York, Micheál Martin said that he questioned whether those who refuse accommodation should be counted as homeless.

"It's far more complex, though. I made a point last week that 26% of those in emergency accommodation in Cork City have refused offers of houses.

"People are still in emergency accommodation and they're being counted. And I question then is that homelessness? If you've been offered a house by a local authority, I think that's an issue that we need to resolve. People may refuse, but there's an issue there, too.

"And also then the inward movement of people, mobility of people. So what we're doing is focusing on families and people who have children to make sure that people in emergency accommodation are housed as quickly as possible."

Mr Martin said that housing minister James Browne had been given an additional €50m to address the issue.