28th November 2025
5,274 Children Living in Homelessness This Christmas
7,278 single adults will spend Christmas alone, with no place to call home and nowhere to go. The Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI) has expressed deep concernconcern at the latest figures showing yet another increase in the number of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness as the country heads into the cold winter months.
The number of children being forced to experience the trauma of homelessness is now a staggering 5,274.
The latest figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show 16,766 men, women and children were living in emergency accommodation in October 2025.
Over the 12 months since October 2024, the data reveals an increase of 1,800 people (12%) in emergency accommodation:
- 6,873 were men, marking a 9.6% (603) increase over the year
- 4,619 were women, marking a 14% (568) increase over the year
- 5,274 were children, showing a 13.5% (629) rise in the same period
- 267 were over 65 year olds, marking a 17.6% (40) increase over the year
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“These alarming levels of homelessness will continue to grow in 2026 unless urgent solutions are delivered. This Christmas, an additional 629 children will face the harsh reality of homelessness compared to last year.
While children and families remain deeply affected, single adults are often the forgotten group and unfortunately they remain largely absent from newly launched Housing Plan. It’s difficult to imagine not having somewhere welcoming to go to over the holiday season, and not having a safe place to call home, but unfortunately that’s the reality for huge numbers of people across Ireland.
Human beings deserve far better than this. It’s shocking that so many people will go without this basic security at a time meant for joy and family.
It’s time we started to see the rising numbers go the other way, and the only way that can happen is if the Government acts now on the Housing Plan. Implementation must be meaningfully informed by people with lived experience of homelessness so that policies and supports truly reflect the realities.
We urgently need to see real, lasting delivery that ensures every person can experience the dignity, security, and hope they all deserve this Christmas and beyond.”
ENDS
For further information contact
Aileen Gaskin
087 7724 717
communications@simoncommunity.com
