Concern at record high number of children who will be homeless this Christmas
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA
Concerns have been raised about the record number of children who will be in emergency accommodation this Christmas as the latest homelessness figures show new record highs have been reached.
The number of people using emergency accommodation rose to 16,755 in October, an increase from 16,614 the previous month.
Figures published on Friday show 11,492 adults accessed emergency accommodation in October, with the number of children recorded as homeless rising from 5,238 to 5,274 between September and October.
The number of children experiencing homelessness surpassed 5,000 in July and has increased each month since, increasing by 13.5 per cent since the general election.
We are finishing the year almost exactly as we began with homelessness rising, with emergency accommodation stretched to its limits and with people forced to sleep in the cold
The number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been increasing steadily for years and the monthly figures published by the Department of Housing are a fraction of the total, as they do not include people sleeping rough, or those staying in hospitals, asylum centres or domestic violence shelters.
Reacting to the latest figures, the Dublin Simon Community said that the homelessness crisis “continues to deepen”.
The chief executive of Dublin Simon Community, Catherine Kenny, said that “more people than ever before are facing the festive season without a place to call home”.
“We are finishing the year almost exactly as we began with homelessness rising, with emergency accommodation stretched to its limits and with people forced to sleep in the cold,” she said.
“2025 has been another year of missed opportunities. The government has set out ambitions for social and affordable housing, and Budget 2026 brought welcome funding for homelessness.
“But unless these commitments are delivered quickly, at scale and in a joined-up way – across housing, health, mental health, addiction and community supports – the overall numbers will not fall.”
Children who are homeless are having their childhoods stolen one day at a time. This is wrong and we can, and must, end this human crisis
Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said: “It is heartbreaking that a record number of 5,274 children will be homeless this Christmas. For many it will be their second or even third year opening their presents in emergency accommodation.
“Children who are homeless are having their childhoods stolen one day at a time. This is wrong and we can, and must, end this human crisis.”
He said the government’s new housing plan – Delivering Homes, Building Communities – needed specific deadlines to track progress and that removing annual targets “reduces transparency”.
“Urgency, robust targets, and timely delivery are crucial to ensure families and individuals experiencing homelessness have secure housing.”
Social Democrat TD Rory Hearne said that a year ago, on the day of the general election, there were 14,996 people in emergency accommodation.
He said since then, there has been a 13.5% increase in the number of children in homelessness.
“The legacy of this government is that more people are now without a home than when it first took office.
“A short time before election day, Micheal Martin told Virgin Media News that he hoped the numbers of people in homelessness would come down over the next 12 months. His government has ensured that the exact opposite has happened.”
He added: “No child should grow up without a home, and this should not be a radical statement. Yet, this Christmas, more children than ever will find themselves in emergency accommodation.”
