24th April 2026
The latest figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show 17,517 men, women and children were living in emergency accommodation in March 2026. This is yet another increase of 209 people since February 2026.
Over the 12 months since March 2025, the data reveals a staggering increase of 2,099 (13.6%) in emergency accommodation:
- 2,659 were families, marking a 20.2% (447) increase over the year
- 5,571 were children, showing a 19.2% (896) rise in the same period
- 2,108 were 18–24-year-olds, marking a 17.2% (310) increase over the year
- 279 were over 65-year-olds, marking a 19.2% (45) increase over the year
In addition, the figures show a 63.3% increase in the number of single adults living in emergency accommodation compared to five years ago in 2021.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“It’s unconscionable to think that over 17,000 people are living in emergency accommodation in Ireland in 2026.
Each month we see the numbers increase and unfortunately there are still no signs of them reversing. At the same time, we are seeing clear warning signs in the rental sector, with eviction notices rising by 45% in recent months, affecting hundreds more households, including those relying on supports like HAP.
We are now watching the effects of that pressure unfold in real time. More people are losing their homes, and more people are being pushed into homelessness.
The record numbers of people without housing demand an urgent, crisis‑level response. This cannot be left to a single department, it requires coordinated action across the entire government. How high must the numbers climb before we acknowledge that we have reached a crisis point?
Housing must be treated as a public good.
We need to see action on prevention, and we need accelerated delivery of one-bed, social and cost-rental homes, targeted supports for single adults on low incomes, and a rebalancing of housing allocations to ensure that individuals without dependents have a roof over their head – a basic need.”
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin
086 166 2160 / communications@simoncommunity.com
