According to the Department of Housing’s figures there are 3,848 homeless children across 1,726 families, while the total number of homeless reached 10,338 in August 2019.

The report finds that while HAP is intended to help families pay for a place to live, the reality is that HAP is so low that many cannot afford private rental accommodation.

“Rebranding private rent as social housing has not worked. Removing homeless families from official data as a policy response has not worked. Rebuilding Ireland has not worked” – Social Justice Ireland.

538 properties were available to rent across eleven locations. A decrease of 54% compared to May 2015,

While the transformative policies of Early Childhood Care and Education, social housing provision and energy retrofitting of homes were welcome, according to the society, significantly greater public investment is required over the longer term.

In its Pre-Budget Submission, the SVP quotes estimate that 25-30% of the population requires support in meeting their housing needs due to low incomes and high costs in Ireland.

769 families in emergency homeless accommodation in January compared to 683 families in December 2015.