Homelessness plan measures to help domestic violence victims stay in their homes

Changes to ensure victims and survivors of domestic violence can remain in their own homes, where possible, are in addition to previously announced plans where people can transfer their time spent on a social housing waiting list to another council area.

Victims and survivors of domestic violence will be supported to remain in their own homes, under measures due to be approved by the Government as part of a homelessness action plan.

The package, which is expected to receive Cabinet approval on Tuesday, includes up to €20m in funding aimed at preventing families and children from entering homelessness.

Developed by housing minister James Browne, the plan will establish tenancy sustainment services in every local authority area to help families at risk of losing their accommodation.

The services will cover local authority, approved housing body, and housing assistance payment (HAP) tenancies.

The plan includes a commitment to examine an early identification and referral system for families considered at risk of homelessness.

It also calls for stronger collaboration between the departments of housing, health, and education, alongside wider family support services.

One Government source said it was important that the Department of Health is involved in dealing with homelessness, citing individuals in some cases with “serious and complex health needs”.

Changes to ensure victims and survivors of domestic violence can remain in their own homes, where possible, are in addition to previously announced plans where people can transfer their time spent on a social housing waiting list to another council area.

The plan also contains commitments for Traveller-specific homelessness prevention measures, alongside culturally appropriate supports.

Plan pillars

It is understood that between €15m and €20m has been allocated towards the plan, which is built around three pillars: Prevent, protect, and progress.

The first pillar includes proposals to reduce the risk of homelessness by earlier intervention, stronger tenancy supports, and improving co-ordination of services.

The second calls for improving outcomes for children and families who enter into homelessness, which includes stronger supports, higher accommodation standards, and better access to services.

The final pillar has a call for reducing the time families and children spend in emergency accommodation.

A Government source said while considerable investment has been made in housing delivery and homelessness services, child and family homelessness remains a “significant challenge”.

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The plan notes there has been a major increase in family homelessness between May 2025 and May 2026, citing the number of families in emergency accommodation increasing by 18.1%. 

It also states that the number of children in emergency accommodation increased by 15.3%.

There were 17,447 people in emergency accommodation across the country at the end of May 2026, according to the latest Department of Housing figures. This included 11,864 adults and 5,583 children, along with 2,684 families.