A record 15,378 people were living in emergency accommodation last month, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing.
The data, published on Friday afternoon, shows of those residing in emergency accommodation in February, a total of 4,653 were children.
The overall total is up from the 15,286 people living in emergency accommodation at the end of January. The number of children in homelessness has also increased, rising from 4,603 in January.
There were a total of 2,185 families in homelessness, of which 58 per cent – or 1,262 – were single-parent families.
Doctors initiate legal action over State’s transgender policy
How U2 drummer Larry Mullen jnr avoids conflict with neighbours: buy up all surrounding houses
‘I caught my husband masturbating with a male friend but he says it’s nothing’
Rory McIlroy’s spine-tingling third round puts him in control of his Masters destiny
Those aged 25 to 44 make up the highest proportion of adults in homelessness, accounting for 54 per cent, with 5,738 such individuals residing in emergency accommodation.
The numbers do not include people sleeping rough, couch-surfing and in domestic violence refuges. Unaccommodated asylum seekers are also excluded from the total, meaning the true level of homelessness is likely higher than official figures suggest.
The longer and brighter evenings should be a time for children to “look forward to playing outside”, said Pat Dennigan, chief executive of Focus Ireland.
“Instead, 4,653 children are stuck living in emergency accommodation, with no place to call home. This situation would have been considered utterly unacceptable just 10 years ago,” he said, adding that the crisis “can be solved”.
“One key measure would be for new Minister for Housing James Browne to implement the Programme for Government commitment that more of the new supply of social housing is used to provide homes for long-term homeless families.”
Mr Dennigan said this “drove the sharp fall in homelessness during the pandemic five years ago and we should learn from this approach”.
Ber Grogan, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said there is a “glaring disconnect” within the Government regarding homelessness.
“The lack of action is directly impacting the increasing homelessness figures we are seeing today. While the numbers rise month after month, we continue to see families, children, and young adults struggling to find stable and safe housing. This is a grim situation, and the time for significant change is long overdue,” she said.
“The tenant-in-situ scheme has been an effective prevention tool so it is beyond shocking to see proposed changes.”
A circular was issued to all local authorities earlier this month, setting out new restrictions to the scheme, which aims to protect vulnerable renters whose landlords are selling up. Local authorities have had to pause the processing of new applications to the scheme as they await confirmation of how many units they are allowed to buy this year.
“It is beggars belief to think that Government would remove a safety net that it put in place. The introduction of mandatory eligibility criteria for tenant-in-situ acquisitions for 2025 is problematic and requires revision.”
David Carroll, chief executive of Depaul, said the crisis “continues unabated”.
He added: “When we reflect on these latest numbers we are once again reminded that behind these numbers are men, women and children living with the uncertainty that comes from experiencing homelessness.
“Furthermore, we believe the picture is further complicated when we consider what they are enduring and suffering in terms of the toll this is taking on their mental health and that of the children affected.”
The department also published a quarterly report on exiting homelessness, which showed during the last quarter of last year, a total of 922 adults exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. This represents an increase of 23.9 per cent on the same period last year.
Throughout all of last year, a total of 3,384 adults exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created, an increase of 20.2 per cent on 2023.
