Bold Action Needed in Budget as Homeless Numbers Continue to Rise

 

Dublin, 25th of September, 2026 – Commenting on the release of August’s Homeless report by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul, notes that now is the time for bold action as homeless numbers rise once again. The just released numbers show that as of August 2026 – 17,885 people are living through the burden of homelessness, including 12,055 individuals, and 5,830 children, accessing local authority managed short-term, emergency accommodation. 

“Once more the increases are gaining pace – and we find ourselves reiterating our concerns and warnings. There is a tangible frustration among those working on the frontline – at what is starting to feel like an acceptance and business as usual attitude by those with the responsibility and power to bring about change.

“We cannot sleepwalk into accepting these or any homelessness figures as our new normal. Behind every statistic is an individual or family facing uncertainty and instability, and we cannot underestimate the impact that homelessness has on people’s lives. We are strongly advocating for the need to intervene earlier to prevent homelessness, reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and ensure people have a clear pathway into permanent housing.

“We believe 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.”

“As we get closer to Budget 2027 our warning to the Government is gathering pace that without bold and immediate action in Budget 2027, homelessness will deepen further and thousands more people will be locked into cycles of crisis.”

We are calling on the Government to urgently:

1. Housing – at its core homelessness is driven primarily by the lack of access to affordable and suitable social housing. Prioritise increasing funding for Public, Affordable, Social Housing and fund a state-led plan to reverse the over-reliance on temporary accommodation and focus on prevention.

2. Mental Health – Increase funding for homelessness services focusing on addiction, drug and alcohol interventions and mental health – with more focus on harm-reduction measures as well as a national network of specific mental health services for those in temporary accommodation.

3. IPAS – Provide more solutions to the critical accommodation crisis in International Protection and Direct Provision. Increased funding provided to the Department of Housing to ensure that those in IP who have secured leave to remain are able to access accommodation on a like for like basis with others.

4. Prioritise a Housing First approach – Accelerate the delivery of supported and independent housing and ensure that healthcare, particularly mental health and addiction services, are embedded and budgeted for within our housing system planning.

5. Staff – Provide adequate and sustainable funding for staff in the voluntary and social sector. That will ensure capacity to both benchmark salaries and index them against public sector contemporaries and any public pay agreements that are negotiated. Ensure that the right affordable public and social housing is built in the right place that meets the needs of the population.

6. Funding – Provide multi-annual funding to the homeless sector that reflects the full cost of service delivery.

 

— Ends —

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