New social housing law will 'add to Ireland's escalating homeless crisis', say housing bodies

The group says there could be impacts for Irish citizens who are returning to live in Ireland after periods living abroad, people who are fleeing domestic violence, families currently on social housing waiting lists and people who are homeless and seeking emergency supports as well as Travellers as a nomadic ethnic group.

A new law that will require social housing applicants to prove that they have been resident in the State will add to the homeless crisis, a coalition of housing bodies has warned.

A group of the country's main homeless service providers say that they are "greatly disturbed at the speed" with which the new housing bill, the Housing and Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026, is being "rushed" through the Houses of the Oireachtas — and that it will "add to the escalating homeless crisis in the country".