Irish Examiner view: Indifference to homelessness reflects badly on all of us

This is a national crisis that needs to be addressed with vigour and determination

There are now 10,000 more people homeless in Ireland than there were in 2021 — giving us a shameful total of 17,548 homeless people in this country at the end of last month. And there is no sign of the crisis abating any time soon. Picture: iStock

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026 - 01:00

The unchecked growth of homelessness in this country appears to indicate that, as a nation, we have become inured to the plight of the growing number without a permanent roof over their heads.

We traditionally laud ourselves for being a caring society which embraces those on the extremities of life, but the hard evidence of homelessness statistics indicates a certain level of indifference towards those for whom the basic right of having a home no longer seems possible.