Rising Demand for Homeless Services Reports Depaul

 Charity urges need for greater community cohesion and prevention strategies to reduce temporary accommodation dependency and to support overstretched family and mental health services

Dublin, 1st September 2026 – Depaul, a leading cross-border charity supporting people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness across Ireland and Northern Ireland, has today launched its 2025 Impact Report, ‘Frontline Prevention – Shaping the Present, Looking to the Future.’

The report outlines a year of significant progress against a backdrop of rising demand. While Depaul delivered record-breaking results in moving people out of emergency accommodation and into long-term homes, with 914 households and 1,452 individuals moving out of homelessness, the scale of the ongoing housing and cost-of-living crisis placed unprecedented pressure on its frontline services. Across its 44 services, Depaul supported more than 8,200 people, but the charity warns of an ever-growing demand from families and a sharp rise in mental health concerns.

The figures demonstrate what can be achieved when people are supported into permanent housing, but also highlight the need for a stronger focus on homelessness prevention, earlier intervention and a clear pathway out of temporary accommodation. 

Depaul’s 2025 Impact included:

• 8,204 people supported – including 5,630 adults and 2,574 children (+12% on 2024).
• 1,456 families supported (+28%) and 5 babies born into the uncertainty of homeless services.
• 93% increase in mental health concerns, with 1,361 service users reporting support needs.
• 75,254 keyworking sessions delivered (+50%) to address severe mental health and other complex needs.  
• 21,181+ hours of community support delivered by 217 dedicated volunteers, aiding vital social and youth initiatives.  
• Dedicated improvements in the Women’s Health Hub to support physical health, hygiene, and hormone health for vulnerable women.  
• 87 active tenancies secured, with 27 additional units secured for future refurbishment through Depaul Housing. 
• Housing First expanded in 2025, supporting 169 people in the Republic of Ireland move into permanent accommodation. 

Record Numbers Moved into Long-Term Homes 

Despite severe housing stock shortages, Depaul’s trauma-informed, housing-led strategy delivered its highest-ever number of exits from homelessness. In 2025, 914 households and 1,452 individual service users were successfully supported into suitable long-term accommodation.  

This was reinforced by the growth of Depaul Housing, which expanded its active tenancies from 51 to 87 households and secured 27 additional units for future refurbishment. The charity’s experience shows that permanent housing, combined with the right support, can provide a sustainable route out of homelessness. 

The increasing demand for family and mental health support underscores the urgent need for early intervention and stronger prevention efforts to protect vulnerable families and individuals.

The family homelessness crisis escalated rapidly over the past 12 months. Depaul supported 1,456 families in 2025, up 28% from 1,138 in 2024, and supported 2,574 children across its residential and support services. Five babies were born to mothers living in Depaul’s emergency services during 2025, which illustrates the harsh reality of infants beginning their lives in temporary hostel accommodation.

The figures reinforce the need for earlier intervention to prevent families and individuals from reaching crisis point and entering homelessness in the first place, as well as a clearer pathway from temporary accommodation into permanent housing. 

Speaking of Depaul’s impact in 2025, CEO David Carroll said:

“2025 was a year where our mission was put to the ultimate test. We demonstrated that homelessness can be temporary by moving more people (1,452 individuals and 914 households) into permanent homes than ever before, while advocating for a great need for community cohesion to foster a sense of belonging. 

But at the same time, we saw a 28% increase in families coming through our doors and a 93% rise in service users reporting mental health concerns, which demonstrates the growing pressure on our services. 

We cannot sleepwalk into accepting homelessness figures as the new normal. We need to intervene earlier to prevent homelessness, reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and ensure people have a clear pathway into permanent housing. Strong communities result in less homelessness.

To truly end homelessness, we must combine increased housing supply with the mental health, addiction and community supports people need to build stable lives and become part of thriving communities ”  

Escalating Mental Health and Complexity of Need

Alongside housing achievements, the report highlights a sharp and alarming escalation in the complexity of mental health needs among service users.  

In 2025, 1,361 service users reported mental health concerns or support needs, nearly double the previous year. Frontline teams responded to 273 incidents of suicidal ideation and 129 incidents of self-harm. To address this growing emergency, Depaul launched its dedicated Mindset Programme to provide direct therapeutic interventions, group work, and recovery planning. Depaul keyworkers delivered a record 75,254 keyworking sessions in 2025, a 50% increase from 2024, reflecting the intensive, one-to-one support required to keep vulnerable individuals safe.  

Depaul’s low-threshold harm reduction services also proved critical, with staff administering Naloxone to save 80 lives following 140 recorded overdose incidents.

Housing First – a Pathway out of Homelessness 

Depaul’s trauma-informed, housing-led strategy was further reinforced by the continuous expansion of its Housing First footprint across Ireland. By coupling immediate, independent housing with intensive, wraparound care, the service supported 169 individuals across Dublin and Meath in 2025 to sustain permanent tenancies. By providing dedicated, long-term support for people with complex mental health and addiction needs, the program continues to offer a vital, permanent pathway out of emergency accommodation.

Niamh Thornton, Senior Services Manager at Depaul, said:

“Behind every number in this report is a person, a family and a story. In 2025, our teams supported more than 8,200 people across Ireland, and what stands out most is the strength and resilience of the people we work alongside every day.

This impact is made possible by our dedicated staff, volunteers and communities. More than 21,000 hours of volunteer support helped create connections and opportunities for people who often feel isolated. While the challenges are becoming increasingly complex, this report shows what can be achieved when people are supported with dignity, compassion and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.”

Depaul has warned that without bold and immediate action in Budget 2027, homelessness will deepen further and thousands more people will be locked into cycles of crisis. The charity is calling on the Government to urgently:

1. Maintain and increase investment in social and affordable housing: Prioritise funding for public, affordable and social housing, alongside a State-led plan to reduce Ireland’s reliance on temporary accommodation.
2. Prevention framework: complete, introduce and fund the Department of Housing’s Prevention framework to stop people entering homelessness.  
3. Strengthen mental health and addiction supports: Increase funding for HSE homelessness services, including addiction, drug and alcohol interventions and mental health supports, with greater emphasis on harm reduction and dedicated mental health services for people living in temporary accommodation.
4. Address the IPAS accommodation crisis: Develop sustainable accommodation solutions for people in International Protection and ensure those granted leave to remain can access suitable long-term affordable housing.
5. Develop Housing First tenancies: As part of the Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan the delivery of supported and independent housing, with mental health and addiction services embedded within housing planning processes.
6. Invest in the homelessness workforce: Provide sustainable funding that enables voluntary and social sector organisations to recruit and retain staff, benchmark salaries appropriately and keep pace with public sector pay agreements.

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For media queries contact: Colette Campbell: Communications & Advocacy Depaul – colette.campbell@depaulcharity.net