14th November 2025
The Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI) welcomes the Housing Plan and its commitment to ending homelessness.
We are particularly pleased to see older adults recognised as a distinct cohort in need of enhanced housing and homelessness supports, including dedicated social housing targets and addressing the affordability challenges for the increasing number of older adults reliant on the private rental sector. This is something SCI and Simon Communities across Ireland have been calling for and recently highlighted during our annual Simon Week campaign.
With the current Youth Homelessness Strategy coming to an end, the inclusion of a specific strand for youth in the coming Homelessness Prevention Framework is very welcome, as young adults remain a unique cohort with unique housing needs. As members of the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) and the Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, we also welcome the establishment of a sub-group of NHAC to oversee the mainstreaming of key actions for this cohort and commitment to expanding Supporting Housing for Youth nationally.
We also welcome the increased targets for social housing delivery and prioritisation of delivering four- and one-bedroom properties to meet the needs of large families and single-adult households. However, the overall absence of a distinct focus on single-adults, who make up the majority of those accessing emergency accommodation, remains a concern.
It is vital that the ambition outlined in the Housing Plan is matched by the necessary resourcing to ensure these commitments are delivered in full. Implementation must also be meaningfully informed by people with lived experience of homelessness so that policies and supports truly reflect the realities.
Our hope is that the Government’s intentions translate into meaningful delivery that makes a real and lasting difference for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
