Almost 17,000 people homeless in December, figures show

There were almost 17,000 people homeless in December, including over 5,000 children, according to official figures.

There were 16,734 people in emergency accommodation in December, down slightly from 16,996 in November.

This includes 11,546 adults and 5,188 children.

Homeless charities said that the slight drop is likely part of a seasonal trend where families and friends offer help to families at Christmas.

The number of people accessing emergency accommodation has been increasing steadily for years and the monthly figures published by the Department of Housing have become an example of the scale of the housing crisis.

Ber Grogan, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said the 1.5% drop in homelessness must be sustained.

“Each year, there is typically a reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness in December due to the Christmas period.

“Lower figures at this time often reflect people being temporarily offered respite by friends or family.

“We need to see real, lasting legal rights that ensures every person can experience the dignity, security, and hope they all deserve all year round.”

Chief executive of Dublin Simon Community Catherine Kenny said that homelessness was driven by a range of overlapping factors.

These included financial pressure and rising living costs to health challenges, family breakdown, domestic violence, trauma and addiction.

“A short-term dip does not change the reality that thousands of people remain without a safe, secure place to call home.”

Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said that it was possible “to end this human crisis if the right policies and political will are in place”.

Mr Dennigan said: “This positive news in December stands in stark contrast to what has been the worst year on record for rising homelessness.

“We must remember that behind every number is a person whose life has been pushed into crisis by losing their home.

“It is simply unacceptable that over 5,000 children in Ireland are still homeless today.”

Sinn Fein housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin said that it was “particularly disturbing” that the government was pressing ahead with legislation this week that would drive “hundreds upon hundreds more singles and families into homelessness”.

This week, Housing Minister James Browne secured Cabinet approval for a new Residential Tenancies Bill which will introduce tenancies of minimum duration, establish a rental price register, and restrictions on no-fault evictions.

Ministers say the Bill will improve rental unit delivery – particularly in the chronic shortage of apartments around Dublin – and provide greater security for tenants.

It is widely acknowledged the proposals will lead to a rise in rents, but this has not been officially modelled, and opposition TDs on the Housing Committee have recommended the Bill be scrapped entirely.

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne said the cause of the crisis was government “failure to treat this situation with the urgency and gravity it demands”.

He said housing had become “a defining disaster for this generation”.

Labour TD Conor Sheehan said: “There is no acceptable level of homelessness, yet under successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments it has become the new normal.

“That is a devastating indictment of political failure. The State has the resources to solve this housing emergency, but it lacks the political will to do so, and until that changes these numbers will continue to rise.”