The Official Winter Count of people sleeping rough across Dublin shows that even more people are sleeping out on the streets in the cold than ever before.
Dublin, 19th of December 2025: The Official Winter Count of people sleeping rough in the Dublin Region* confirmed a total of 145 unique individuals rough sleeping across the four Dublin local authorities over the week of the count, an increase of 11 individuals (8%) compared to the Winter 2024 count. The work was carried out over the week of the Monday the 20th to Sunday the 26th of October 2025.
The count was arranged by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and carried out by the Dublin Simon Community Outreach Team. Additional Outreach workers were deployed to ensure intense coverage of city centre and Dublin regional areas. Staff in all four Dublin local authorities and An Garda Síochána provided additional information about people who were rough sleeping, especially those in isolated areas.
Of the 145 people met rough sleeping, 125 (86%) had previously been assessed or were assessed during the count week by the local authority while the Outreach team is actively engaged with the other 20 people. The main characteristics of the 125 individuals with PASS** IDs were as follows:
- The majority of the people confirmed as rough sleeping were male, Irish and aged between 26-45 years.
- 90% were linked with one of the four Dublin local authorities.
- 54% were using tents and 46% were not.
- 28 individuals (19%) were found rough sleeping in both the Winter 2025 and Spring 2025 counts. A number of these are being targeted for a Housing First response, which will provide them with permanent housing and visiting supports to help them sustain their home.
- 24 unique couples comprising 48 individuals were found rough sleeping in the Winter 2025 count, highlighting the need for an increased number of couple’s beds.
- In the Winter 2025 count, 23 individuals (18%) accessed Emergency Accommodation at some stage during the count week. A further 25 individuals (20%) had an Emergency Accommodation booking during the count week which they did not access (i.e. were no-shows).
- 80 individuals (64%) had a booking for Emergency Accommodation at some stage in the three months prior the count.
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community, said, “The number of people sleeping rough during the winter months has increased 8% since last year. Since 2021, this number has risen by 54% sleeping on the street is a hardship that no one should ever have to face. Even if just one person was left with no other option than to brave the elements on our streets, it would be appalling. I can only imagine the unbearable conditions these human beings had to face during one of the coldest times of the year.”
The rough sleeping count, while an important exercise in understanding the scope of homelessness in Dublin, does not encompass the entirety of the work or high level of engagement professional staff conduct on the daily and nightly basis. The Dublin Simon Outreach team engages with people who are sleeping rough 365 days a year. The team works around the clock to support those sleeping on the streets. It can take several intensive engagements by the Outreach team with people who are rough sleeping to support them into emergency accommodation. Those recorded rough sleeping this winter have previously accessed emergency accommodation.
Rough sleeping will remain a serious problem due to the lack of access to housing to help support people to exit homelessness. Dublin Simon is calling for a commitment from the government to invest in preventative measures, to fast-track building social and affordable housing, and to recognise the need for tailored supports that directly meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness.
“The impacts of the housing and homelessness crises are being felt right across the country, but no one is more exposed to its horrors than those bedded down on the street. We need to remember that each one of these 145 people is a human being that we are leaving out in the cold. Sleeping out on the street poses serious risks to people’s health and safety. The Dublin Simon Outreach team will continue to engage with individuals by identifying their specific needs, referring them to wraparound services and advocating on their behalf with partners across the sector.”
“If you see someone bedded down who may need support, our Outreach team is out on the streets of Dublin city and county 365 days of the year from 7am – 1am Monday – Friday and 9am – 1am Saturday – Sunday, and can be contacted via the Dublin Rough Sleeper app.”
Dublin Simon Community worked with staff from the DRHE and Dublin City Council (DCC) to ensure that experienced staff were available to carry out the official count in an effective, sensitive and professional manner.
* This number does not include International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) clients since these individuals are under the remit of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
** The Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) is an online shared system utilised by every homeless service provider and all local authorities in Ireland. The system provides ‘real-time’ information in terms of homeless presentation and bed occupancy across the Dublin region.