THE NUMBER of homeless children in the Mid West has almost doubled in the last year, with the latest government figures showing 204 children in emergency accommodation in January of this year.
This is in comparison to the figure of 131 children being homeless in January of 2024, according to the same government figures.
There were 586 adults recorded as needing emergency accommodation the Mid West in January, 489 of which were in Limerick.
128 families were in homeless accommodation, an increase from 81 families last January. Of those families who were homeless this year, 82 were single parent families.
Nationally, there were 15,286 people homeless in January 2025, including 2,164 families, and 4,603 children, accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation. This is up from 14,864 in December 2024.
Commenting on the release of January’s Homeless report by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, Depaul Chief Executive David Carroll said he is calling on all stakeholders and the new government to work together to take radical action as homelessness numbers hit a record high.
“We are asking now that the new government develop a detailed five-year plans to support the intentions outlined in the Programme for Government including the commitment to ensure that those in long-term homelessness will benefit from the increased supply of social housing,” Mr Carroll said.
“We want to see these homeless numbers dropping over 2025 – and are working every day to ensure the men, women, and children behind these numbers who are living in crisis without a home are not forgotten or overlooked.”
The Depaul chief executive stated further that “we also need the new government to deliver on critical investment in wraparound support services including for those with mental health and addiction issues”.
“2024 was the worst year on record for homelessness – in 2025 we are going to continue to work with all stakeholders to try to move the needle on this crisis – housing is the most basic and fundamental need, yet a large number of people in this country do not have a secure, affordable, decent place to call home.”
