In April 2022, a census run by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed that over a thousand infants and young children were officially marked as homeless. The census calculated the number of individuals who spent the evening in state-recognised homeless shelters or sleeping rough. It found that during the census night, 1,179 children aged four and under were recorded as homeless.
The census also indicated that amongst individuals aged five to nine, 854 children were in a state of homelessness. Additionally, 709 and 567 children were recorded as homeless within the age brackets of 10 to 14 and 15 to19, respectively.
The majority of adults registered as homeless were between the ages of 30 and 39, with each age group accounting for 988 homeless individuals.
The Housing Department provides a monthly update on the country’s homeless population, with the latest report from March 2024 showing 9,719 homeless adults.
Although the census data is not current, it remains the only source providing detailed age-specific breakdowns of the homeless population. The report includes a summary of key demographic facets such as age distribution, nationality, socio-economic condition, and general health.
The 2022 Census recorded a total of 10,321 homeless individuals. The average age of the homeless population was younger than the average population of the State, with notable differences among various age and gender groups.
Men made up just over 60% (6,234) of the homeless demographic, compared to 4,087 homeless women. In contrast, women made up 51% of the general state populace.
Approximately a third (3,309) of the homeless population were under 20 years old, with a slight male majority (52%) among these young individuals. In the wider population, around 26% were under the age of 20. Of the total homeless population, 3,020 were youths up to the age of 17, and another 64% were aged between 20 and 59.
A small fraction (4%) of the homeless populace, or 417 individuals, were 60 years or older.
Over two-thirds of the homeless populace, numbering 7,238, were located within Dublin during this period. Other notable areas with significant homeless counts included the southwest and mideast, with 7% and 6% of the overall demographic, respectively. The percentage of homeless people in the northwest was the least, accounting for only 1% of the total.
The Housing Commission released a report earlier in the week, advocating strongly for a substantial increase in the role of the State within the housing sector. The report highlights the critical need for State input to rectify the foundational and systemic deficiencies that currently plague the market.
The report recommends various measures such as new laws, an additional new body to oversee housing matters, broadening the State’s role in financing housing, and a complete revamping of subsidies and programmes. The Housing Commission’s report indicates an underlying shortage of housing in Ireland, which could possibly amount to up to 256,000 homes.