Figures highlight the scale of what is increasingly the crisis of a generation
Dublin, 27th of February 2026: Homeless figures for January 2026, despite a brief dip during the Christmas season, have once again swung upward as the number in emergency accommodation reaches a new record high. The first figures of the year underline that the crisis remains deeply entrenched and that sustained pressure across housing, affordability and support systems continues to push people into homelessness.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said,
“Sadly, another social injustice milestone has been reached with record homeless figures. As numbers continue to grow, the Government must move with action to deliver solutions that will have the most impact. It is essential that at both a national and local level every effort is made to increase housing supply and ensure people can move out of emergency accommodation into secure homes. For the thousands counted by the system, and the many others outside of official record, there needs to finally be a sustained response to what is truly the crisis of a generation.”
“As new rental regulations come into effect, it is important to recognise how closely homelessness is tied to conditions in the private rental market. In Dublin, 1 in 4 households who become homeless come from the private rental market, citing notices of termination and affordability as the reasons. Measures that the Government has outlined in the new housing plan need to be implemented immediately and the review of HAP is paramount to improve access and affordability to those who rely on private rental accommodation as a housing option. Equally so, it is important to ensure prevention measures are in place for people at risk of losing their homes. Strong prevention — including security and affordability — is essential if we are to stem the flow into homelessness.”
“Alongside increasing housing supply and prevention measures, the continued provision of health and addiction services help people move on and remain housed. Housing alone is not enough — people need the right supports to sustain tenancies and rebuild stability.”
Latest figures
The latest data from the Department of Housing confirms 17,112 individuals are now in emergency accommodation nationwide. 12,198 were recorded in Dublin, representing a staggering 12% year-on-year increase.
The latest report also includes 1,794 families and 3,931 children living in emergency accommodation in Dublin, a figure that does not even account for those rough sleeping, in insecure accommodation, individuals in domestic violence shelters, or those in hidden homelessness—people sleeping in tents, cars, on couches – nor do they include people seeking international protection, who follow a separate accommodation pathway through IPAS.
Kenny said, “These thousands do not even begin to cover the entirety of the homelessness issue. There are of course those without any place to shelter, those who spend their nights out on the streets. With near-record breaking rainfall and bitterly cold conditions being the norm of late, one can barely imagine what it must be like for the people who are forced to brave the elements. No one should have to endure these hardships, and more must be done to provide the suitable accommodation necessary to bring an end to rough sleeping.”
She added, “Ultimately, we must remember that behind each statistic is a human being. Think of the person in the sodden sleeping bag battling unrelenting rain, the person left with no other option than to live out of their car, or someone who has just spent Christmas in emergency accommodation and is facing another year without a place to call home. We cannot accept these injustices any longer. The time for change has long since passed, but 2026 must be the turning point for this emergency.”
Dublin Simon Community is calling on Government and local authorities to:
- prioritise immediate housing allocations for long-term emergency accommodation residents;
- accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes in line with the national strategy;
- introduce a coordinated, cross-departmental framework to tackle homelessness as the multi-layered crisis it is.