Those with Lived Experience Speak Out – “In homelessness, everybody looks down on you. It’s like you didn’t make it. You’re in a bad place and it’s all your fault.”
The latest figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show 17,308 men, women and children were living in emergency accommodation in February 2026. This is an increase of 196 people since January 2026.
The Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI) have warned that homelessness is becoming “normalised” and are calling on Government to urgently implement known solutions, including a renewed commitment to Housing First and increased delivery of social and cost-rental homes.
Over the 12 months since February 2025, the data reveals a staggering increase of 1,930 (12.6%) in emergency accommodation:
- 2,609 were families, marking a 19.4%% (424) increase over the year
- 5,457 were children, showing a 17.3% (804) rise in the same period
- 2,061 were 18–24-year-olds, marking a 13.9% (251) increase over the year
- 280 were over 65-year-olds, marking a 21.7% (50) increase over the year
In addition, the figures show a 61.4% increase in the number of single adults living in emergency accommodation compared to 2021. Simon Communities across Ireland have been voicing concerns that people experiencing homelessness alone are being side-lined in the conversations around priority solutions.
At a media event following the release of the figures, Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, highlighted the experiences of nine people living in homelessness and the severe human impact behind the statistics, as well as the urgent need for solutions. These experiences were gathered as part of an ongoing EU-funded project, COMHOM. Representatives from Galway and Dublin Simon also spoke about the key issues facing the single people in homelessness in the regions they serve.
Pathways into homelessness often result from a combination of structural and personal crises, including lack of available affordable accommodation, poverty, job loss, family breakdown, trauma, domestic violence, and mental health difficulties.
Life during homelessness, whether in emergency accommodation, hostels, or informal arrangements, was described as unstable, had a lack of privacy, and limited autonomy. Participants also experienced stigma and discrimination, which compounded the difficulty of recovering and accessing support.
Exiting homelessness relied heavily on access to social and affordable housing and private rented accommodation through Housing Payment assistance (HAP), but systemic obstacles such as bureaucratic delays and insufficient wraparound support made sustaining stable housing challenging.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“What we’re hearing from people with lived experience is harrowing. One person told us they have sex with strangers in order to secure a place to sleep. A parent said they feel like a failure and once tried to take their own life. Someone else was removed from the housing list after four years for no apparent reason. It’s all so wrong. Everyone has the right to a safe and secure place to call home but unfortunately, that’s not what’s happening. It’s important that we listen to people with lived experience. They’re the ones living in fear. They’re the ones with ideas, solutions and the knowledge of how systems and policies are failing. Their voices are valuable and are valued by Simon Communities across Ireland.
We have reached a point where homelessness is becoming normalised – a predictable, monthly data release, a near-constant presence in the headlines, an issue that is somehow both urgent and strangely routine. As a nation, this is not something we should be proud of.
The Simon Communities have long argued for a reinvigorated commitment to Housing First, particularly for single adults. We need a radical shift from emergency responses to 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 are no longer left behind.
I urge our Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and his Government colleagues to look beyond the numbers and confront the human reality they represent. Cross-departmental collaboration and resourcing is the only way to prevent homelessness.”
Speaking at the event, Dr Carol Baumann, CEO of Galway Simon Community, said:
“With the monthly release by the Department of the numbers of people in Emergency Accommodation, there is the usual flurry of activity in the media, talking about new record numbers of adults and children experiencing homelessness, everyone says something must be done and things move on until next month. But for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, there is no moving on from the stress and the trauma they are in. We have to remember that these numbers represent people. People with dreams and aspirations, people like us in every way except they haven’t got a place to call home. Their lives are on hold, stuck in limbo, waiting and worrying. We are urging policymakers, local authorities, and the public to recognise that homelessness is not defined solely by those who enter Emergency Accommodation, but by the lived experience of people who have lost the security, dignity, and stability of a place they call home. In order to address this crisis, there is an urgent need for an all of government response to ensure there is an adequate supply of affordable accommodation to save individuals and families from the trauma of homelessness.”
Also speaking at the event, Pat Greene, Director of Advocacy and Compliance with Dublin Simon, said:
“Today’s harrowing numbers continue to highlight that over 70% of homelessness is concentrated in the Capital, and the largest cohort are single homeless adults. Dublin Simon Community’s front-line staff, through its Outreach Teams and emergency accommodation, continue to deal with the brunt of the crisis daily. Viable options for social housing through the rental market and affordability of housing need to be addressed for those unable to exit homelessness and those in threat of losing their tenancy”.
ENDS
For further information contact Aileen Gaskin 086 166 2160 (new number) / communications@simoncommunity.com
