December shows dip in homeless numbers amid 'worst year on record for rising homelessness'

The homelessness figure includes 5,188 children, down from just over 5,300. File photo

The number of people homeless in Ireland has fallen to 16,734 from 16,996. That figure includes 5,188 children, down from just over 5,300.

The latest figures released by the Department of Housing show 9,789 households are currently in emergency accommodation, with men making up nearly 7,000 of the 11,500 adults currently homeless.

Catherine Kenny, CEO of the Dublin Simon Community, said the decline is a trend seen in recent years largely driven by short-term accommodation being found for the Christmas period.

“Again we see in December's figure a slight reduction due to the Christmas period. A short-term dip does not change the reality that thousands of people remain without a safe, secure place to call home.

“This is the third year in a row we have seen a decrease at this point in the year, only for numbers to rise again in January and continue climbing. Month-to-month fluctuations should not distract from the urgent need for sustained, long-term solutions that reflect the complexity of people’s lives.”

Focus Ireland CEO, Pat Dennigan, said Friday's numbers "must be viewed in the context of a stark 10% rise in overall homelessness over the whole of 2025".

“This positive news in December stands in stark contrast to what has been the worst year on record for rising homelessness. 

We must remember that behind every number is a person whose life has been pushed into crisis by losing their home. It is simply unacceptable that over 5,000 children in Ireland are still homeless today.

The Salvation Army said service users in its Dublin-based hubs need increased emotional and mental support. 

It has recently employed two new chaplains at Granby Lifehouse on Granby Row, which provides a specialised service for over 100 men and women, and York House in the city centre, which provides short-term and long-term accommodation.

Political reaction

The Government was criticised by the Opposition for the overall level of homelessness, with Sinn Féin's Eoin O Broin saying that while the figures were down month to month, they were "significantly higher" on a year-to-year basis.

Mr O Broin said the Government's rental changes, which will come into effect in March, will "essentially end" Rent Pressure Zones and will see "dramatic" increases in both rent prices and homelessness.

"This Government is neither serious about tackling the homelessness nor the housing crisis," Mr O Broin said, saying that he will fight the new rules "tooth and nail".

Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan said the figures mean there needs to be "a renewed sense of urgency from Government" and warned that the situation cannot become normalised.

"There is no acceptable level of homelessness, yet under successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments it has become the new normal. That is a devastating indictment of political failure. 

The State has the resources to solve this housing emergency, but it lacks the political will to do so, and until that changes these numbers will continue to rise.

“Children growing up in emergency accommodation face overcrowding, instability, disrupted education and lasting trauma."

Social Democrats spokesperson Rory Hearne said the new rules will see evictions rise.

“Rather than addressing this trend, the government is introducing disastrous rental measures which will allow landlords to increase rents between tenancies — in the run-up to the introduction of this backwards step, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of evictions."