Newly elected TDs must not forget about homelessness as new figures show another new record of 14,966 without a home

As homelessness increases to yet another record level, Focus Ireland said that political parties must make solutions to homelessness much more central to negotiations for a new Government than they have been during the election campaign.

The number of people who are homeless has increased to a record figure of 14,996 for October 2024. This is an increase in 206 individuals homeless on the previous month and a stark 14% rise in the last year since October 2023. The new figures also show a record number of 4,645 children and 2,161 families who are homeless. Since the last election in February 2020, family homelessness has risen by 34% and child homelessness has increased by 31% (1,610 families homeless in February 2020 and 3,534 children homeless in February 2020).

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan: “While homelessness has risen by 47% since the last general election—from 10,146 people in February 2020 to 14,996 in October 2024— proposals to solve the crisis have been notably absent from political discourse during this campaign. Although all political parties refer to homelessness as a priority issue and include sections on homelessness in their manifestos, most proposals remain vague and aspirational. This reveals a stark decline in engagement with the issue compared to the 2020 election.  In their 2020 manifestos, Fine Gael mentioned homelessness 31 times and Fianna Fáil 33 compared to 9 and 4 mentions, respectively this year. Sinn Fein mentioned homelessness 22 times in its 2020 Manifesto, but only 3 times in the current manifesto (although a separate Housing Policy document mentioned homelessness 45 times).”

It is essential that this political and policy neglect is reversed during negotiations on Government formation and a new Programme for Government. Mr. Dennigan acknowledged the emphasis on increasing housing supply in manifestos but cautioned against viewing this as a complete solution for homelessness.

“Building more homes is crucial, and it’s positive to see cross-party agreement on much more ambitious targets for home building. However, contrary to what most party leaders seem to think, housing supply alone will not solve the homelessness crisis. We need to prioritise and support people who are homeless into new homes. Last year, Ireland built more social homes than it had in years, yet few homeless households were able to access them, and homelessness still increased. To reverse the trend, we need targeted use of housing supply, ensuring a portion of new homes is ring-fenced for long-term homeless households.

“In addition, there must be Investment in wraparound supports, including mental health services, care work, and community development initiatives.  The low wages for Section 39 workers, which has received much welcome attention since Charlotte Fallon raised it with the Taoiseach in Kanturk, also affects staff in homeless services (Section 10 workers) and requires real Government engagement rather than soothing words to resolve.”

He adds: “Next week, the same week Focus Ireland launches our Christmas appeal for donations, many families will sit down to enjoy the Toy Show with over 4,600 children facing Christmas in emergency homeless accommodation, some of them for the second and third year. Politicians need to have these children in the front of their minds as they negotiate the new Programme for Government. This is an entirely solvable problem, and these children simply cannot wait any longer.”