12th November 2025
Simon Communities of Ireland today launched their Annual Report 2024, highlighting both the scale of homelessness across the country and the urgent need for political ambition to end it. The report details key insights from the Simon Communities of Ireland’s work throughout the year while calling for renewed government leadership and systems change.
They are calling for a National Prevention Strategy with ring-fenced funding to stop homelessness before it starts as well as targeted investment, and legislative reform.
At the launch, Ber Grogan, Executive Director of Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“This report shows the work that goes into providing real solutions to government. But it also exposes a stark reality: Ireland has the means to end homelessness, yet not the political will. The longer someone is in homelessness, the harder it is to get out. Every day, our services see people who want to move forward but are trapped by a broken system.
The Housing Plan is due to be published tomorrow and we hope to see clear timelines, targets and budgets to ensure we see impact from January 2026. We need to see investment. With the right choices, we can end homelessness in Ireland. The time to act is now. Ireland is a wealthy country. Supply is increasing. What’s missing is accountability and courage. Politicians must stand up to the profit lobby and make the decisions that prioritise homes over profit. Ending homelessness is a political choice – it’s one Ireland can and must make.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, who officially launched the report, said:
“I want to be very clear. I share Simon Communities of Ireland’s determination and indeed relentlessness in seeing homelessness ended. Since the beginning of my role as Minister for Housing, tackling homelessness, supporting preventative measures and exiting people from homelessness and precarious living conditions is quite genuinely at the top of my agenda.
In particular, it is unacceptable to me that there are children and young people with their families in long term homelessness – living in what should be temporary state accommodation. I want to shift the dial here, and I am willing to make, and have made in the last number of months, a number of key decisions to get that moving.
As Minister I am committed to delivering lasting solutions that respond to the need we have. This is through targeted investment, coordinated action across departments, local authorities, and organisations like Simon, and by grounding our approach in evidence-based policy.
Our objective is to ensure that every individual in Ireland has access to secure, safe and dignified housing. Homelessness is not and should not be inevitable for anyone, it is a challenge we can and must overcome together.
I want to take the opportunity, in launching this annual report, to commend the work of Simon Communities of Ireland working with the Simon network, not just here in the capital but across the country. Often completely hidden work and interventions that mean the world to the people who access the services. It is hugely important for NGOs to have their voices heard in our consultations and policy work. The co-ordinating work and representative voice of the Simon Communities of Ireland ensures that my officials and I, and indeed wider Government, are getting feedback, ideas and working to find solutions to homelessness together.
Our forthcoming housing plan will place a strong focus on homelessness – not only because it must, but because addressing it lies at the heart of my dedication in this role.”
Nuala Ward, Director of Investigations at the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, reflected on the deepening crisis for children growing up in homelessness:
“Our Office has been raising the issue of child homelessness and unstable living conditions for families as far back as 2012, and sadly since then, the problem has grown exponentially. The impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is catastrophic. It affects every aspect of their lives; education, well-being and self-development. In recent months we have met the Minister for Housing and been before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing calling for a specific child and family homelessness strategy with a focus on prevention, to finally tackle this issue. We expect that the new strategy due to be announced this week will, for the first time, specifically consider children and families. Things cannot continue as they are. Childhoods are being lost with long term implications.”
Speaking at the launch, Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said:
“This report is launched against a backdrop of over five thousand children living in emergency homeless accommodation – an increase of 677 children compared to 12 months ago. The longer a child is exposed to homelessness, the greater the impact on their childhood and their future. Without urgent action, these numbers will continue to swell, with the Government effectively condemning thousands of children to a life of instability, anxiety and poverty. It is not simply about providing a roof over their head, we need to see real action to address overcrowding, unsafe and unsuitable conditions and guaranteeing every child access to tailored supports to help them deal with the impact of this crisis – something they should never have to shoulder.”
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin 087 7724 717 / communications@simoncommunity.com
