Analysis: First six months of 2025 shows no reprieve for homeless in Waterford
Homelessness is on the rise in Waterford. Stock Image.
There has been a significant increase in the number of adults in emergency accommodation in Waterford in the first six months of 2025.
A statistical analysis by the Waterford News and Star showed that, on average, 22 more people were in emergency accommodation (EA) from January to June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The average number of adults in Waterford EA in the first six months of 2024 was 95, and 117 in 2025.
Our analysis comes as the Monthly Homelessness Report for June 2025, published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, shows 115 people in EA.
That is just one less than reported in May.
The monthly reports began providing county figures in 2016.
Our analysis reveals a significant increase in the number of adults in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2016, with an average of 94 adults per month.
However, there was no statistically significant difference from 2018, which showed the second-highest first six months.
In the first six months of 2018, an average of 113 people were in EA in Waterford per month.
The average number for June from 2016 to 2025 was 88 adults, 27 fewer than the 2025 month figure.
The June 2025 Monthly Homeless Report shows 331 adults in emergency accommodation in the South East region.
Waterford remains the local authority with the highest number of adults in emergency accommodation in the region.
Waterford is followed by Tipperary with 79 people and Wexford with 53.
Kilkenny was the lowest with 39, followed by Carlow on 45.
The report showed 71 families, with a total of 127 children, homeless in the South East region.
Nationally, 15,915 people were in EA in June 2025.
That is 10,957 adults and 4,958 children.
