31st January 2025
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has released its latest report, showing that the number of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness reached 14,864 in December 2024. This represents a decrease of 335 people compared to the previous month. 4,510 of these are children.
In the 12 months since December 2023, the data shows an increase of 1,546 people (12%) in emergency accommodation:
- 2,092 were families, marking a 9% (176) increase over the year.
- 4,510 were children, showing a 14% (548) rise in the same period.
- 1,775 were 18-24 year olds, marking a 12% (194) increase over the year.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“These figures do not fully reflect the scale of the homelessness crisis, as it is common to see a temporary dip in numbers in December. Many people experiencing homelessness find short-term respite with family or friends over the Christmas period, but this does not change their long-term reality.
The crisis remains severe, and unfortunately we expect to see the numbers rise again in the coming months.
With a new Government and Minister for Housing in place, now is the time for decisive action. If they are serious about tackling homelessness, they must introduce a dedicated prevention strategy. We cannot allow more families and individuals to fall into homelessness while so many remain stuck in emergency accommodation. We need real solutions – from prevention measures to long-term housing support – to help people exit homelessness permanently.”
ENDS
For further information contact
Rebecca Keleghan 085 800 1275 / communications@simoncommunity.com
