Homelessness continues to rise in Waterford

There were 96 adults in Waterford accessing emergency accommodation during the week of June 24 - 30, 2024, the highest in the South East region. That figure was 28 people more than a year prior in June, 2023.

Kilkenny and Carlow both registered 43 adults in June, whilst Wexford registered 69 adults. Tipperary had the lowest in the region, with 40. In the South East, a total of 291 adults were in emergency accommodation, equating to 3 per cent of Ireland’s total amount.

Across the country the figure was 9,899 adults total, which was an increase of 1,064 since June 2023.

Commenting on the reports, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said: “The Progress Report also records a total of 630 households, including 786 adults and 259 families, exiting homelessness in the quarter.” 

Meanwhile, during a Leader’s Questions session in the Dáil this week, Tánaiste Micheal Martin said: “There are growing numbers, and in some instances coming into the country directly to avail of emergency accommodation from Europe. That happens. In that context, we have a challenge in terms of them, under the framework, not being eligible for social housing. That requires emergency accommodation.

“The key, in my view, is prevention and then rapid exit from homelessness as quickly as we can. The most effective way to do that is the supply of more houses.”