World Children’s Day marks the anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), an international treaty that was adopted by the United Nations in 1989 and ratified by Ireland in 1992. The UNCRC outlines the rights of every child under 18, that are essential to the safety, wellbeing, and development of all children.
One of these fundamental rights, outlined in Article 27, is the right to an adequate standard of living, which includes a safe, stable home. Yet for the 5,238 children currently living in emergency accommodation, and thousands more experiencing hidden homelessness, this right remains unrealised.
At Simon Communities of Ireland (SCI), we know that a home is a central foundation to enabling other rights to be met. When a child does not have a safe, stable place to live, every aspect of their development may be impacted. Without a home, many of the rights guaranteed under the UNCRC are jeopardised, including:
Health and Health Services (Article 24)
Children experiencing homelessness face higher risks of negative physical and mental health outcomes. Overcrowded or inadequate accommodation is linked to respiratory illnesses and chronic stress – both of which can have lasting effects.
Education (Article 28)
Emergency accommodation or other temporary living arrangements often lack quiet spaces for children to study or complete homework. Coupled with the stress of housing insecurity, many children will struggle to focus and reach their full potential in school.
Leisure, Play, and Recreation (Article 31)
Play is essential for healthy development, yet cramped rooms and shared facilities in emergency accommodation leaves little space for play. The inability to host playdates can also impact children’s social connections and confidence.
Children’s rights must shape every decision made by Government, service providers, and caregivers. The UNCRC also guarantees children the right to express their views on matters that affect them, and to have those views taken into account.
In the recently announced national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, Government committed to developing a Child and Family Homelessness Action Plan, guided by the UNCRC. This commitment is a welcome and necessary step toward a child-centred response to homelessness. For the plan to be effective, children’s lived experiences must inform its development from the beginning to ensure that their voices shape the policies designed to support them.
World Children’s Day is a reminder that every child has the right to safety, stability, and the chance to grow and thrive. Child homelessness is not inevitable, and is not a failure of families or children. It is a failure of policies and systems.
Ending child homelessness is possible, but it requires a sustained, rights-based approach that places children’s needs at the centre. The Simon Communities of Ireland cares about ending family and child homelessness and will continue to advocate for investment in prevention and evidence-based solutions until every child in Ireland has a home.
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