Almost 4,000 children are homeless according to Department of Housing figures.
In total, 3,895 children were homeless in August, a new record, while the total figure for the month was 12,691.
The figure for children represents a 17% rise on August 2022, and surpasses the previous record of 3,873 set in September 2019.
Figures show there were 1,886 families who were homeless last month.
Dublin Region Homeless Executive confirmed a previous error in how the numbers were recorded resulted in a cumulative overcount of 308 adults in Dublin.
The correction of this error has seen the official number of people homeless fall by 156 in August.
Focus Ireland chief executive Pat Dennigan said the charity welcomed the correction:
“It is vital to have accurate figures. However, I would stress that the removal of the 308-person error does not change the unacceptable story of the last two years which is one of a relentless increase in homelessness.”
Mr Dennigan called for urgent action in the budget to help end the deepening child homelessness crisis and better protect children while they are homeless.
Mr Dennigan also called for the Government to take immediate action to help lift more families and children out of homelessness.
“The Government is not using anywhere near enough of the new social housing supply coming on stream to drive down homelessness. Families and single people who are long-term homeless need to get a fairer share of the new homes that become available.”
Sinn Féin says it once again represents a failure of government policy and inaction. They have called on the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien ‘to go.’
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing, Eoin Ó Broin TD, has said that the longer Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are in government, the worse the housing and homelessness crises are going to get.
“Month after month, the Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has ignored the appeals of opposition parties and homeless NGOs to introduce an emergency response to the rising homelessness crisis. The result in ever-increasing levels of homelessness.
“Under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, we have become too used to record homelessness figures, month after month. These numbers are totally unacceptable. They are evidence of failure with real human costs.
“The longer Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been in government the worse the housing crisis has got – record homelessness levels, record high rents, rising house prices and families now under pressure from rising mortgage interest rates.
“The question has to be asked: what kind of housing crisis will we be facing if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael get another term in government?
“The choice at the next election is a worsening housing crisis under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael or a Sinn Féin led government that will fix the housing crisis by building homes, cutting rents, and dramatically reducing the numbers of adults and children in emergency accommodation.”
