14-05-2025
More than 120 people sleeping rough on Dublin's streets
The count confirmed that 121 individuals were rough sleeping across the four Dublin local authorities during this period.
This marks a 5pc decrease from the Spring 2024 count, when 128 individuals were found rough sleeping.
While the slight decrease is encouraging, Dublin Simon Community cautions that it does not reflect a true reduction in homelessness.
'While we welcome the 5pc decrease in the number of individuals recorded sleeping rough, we must recognise that this does not reflect a reduction in homelessness overall,' Emma McMillen, Director of Homeless & Community Services at Dublin Simon Community, said.
'These figures certainly reflect the relentless efforts of outreach teams and the scaling up of emergency beds in recent years.
'But these are short-term measures. Without access to secure, affordable housing and effective health and therapeutic support, people remain trapped in a cycle of homelessness.
'The reality is that emergency accommodation is operating at capacity, and more people are becoming stuck in the system with no exit route due to the housing crisis.
'The Dublin Simon Outreach team will continue to work tirelessly to engage with individuals by identifying their specific needs, referring them to wraparound services, and advocating on their behalf with partners across the sector.
'Sleeping out on the street comes with serious health and safety risks, and every person doing so represents an urgent humanitarian concern. No one should be left without shelter in a crisis like this,' she added.
Dublin Simon Community worked with staff from the DRHE and Dublin City Council (DCC) to ensure that experienced staff were available to carry out the official count in an effective, sensitive, and professional manner.
The report highlights that rough sleeping continues to be a serious issue, with each person sleeping on the streets facing significant health and safety risks.
The count was carried out from March 31 to April 6, 2025, and of the 121 people found rough sleeping, 82pc had previously been assessed or were assessed during the count week by the Local Authority.
Some 94pc were linked with one of the four Dublin local authorities, 55pc were using tents, and 45pc were not.
Fourteen unique couples, comprising 28 individuals (of which 23 individuals had Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS) identification), were found rough sleeping in the Spring 2025 count.
Dublin Simon Community says this highlights the need for an "increased number of couples' beds".
The PASS is an online shared system utilised by every homeless service provider and all local authorities in Ireland. The system provides 'real-time' information on homeless presentations and bed occupancy across the Dublin region.
In the Spring 2025 count, 26 individuals accessed Emergency Accommodation at some stage during the count week. A further 22 individuals had an Emergency Accommodation booking during the count week, which they did not access.
65 individuals had a booking for Emergency Accommodation at some stage in the three months prior to the count, of which 19 individuals did not present.
The rough sleeper count, while an important exercise in understanding the scope of homelessness on the streets of Dublin, 'does not encompass the entirety of the issue,' according to Dublin Simon Community.
The Dublin Simon Outreach team engages with people who are sleeping rough 365 days a year. The team works around the clock to support those sleeping on the streets.
Over the past four years, Dublin Simon Community has expanded its emergency accommodation capacity by 35pc in response to the growing demand and ongoing shortage of affordable housing.
They say that while the growth has been 'necessary to meet the immediate need,' it is not a 'sustainable solution'.
'Long-term reliance on emergency accommodation highlights the urgent need for a coordinated governmental response, investment in preventative measures, fast-tracked building of social and affordable housing, and recognising the need for tailored health supports that directly meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness,' they said.
Dublin Simon Community appealed to the public that if they see someone bedded down who may need support, their Outreach team is out on the streets of Dublin city and county 365 days of the year from 7 am – 1 am Monday – Friday and 9 am – 1 am Saturday – Sunday, and can be contacted via the Dublin Rough Sleeper app.
These numbers do not include International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) clients since these individuals are under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth.
