5,620 children spending their summer in emergency accommodation

Simon Communities of Ireland say the numbers are unacceptable

Overall,17,482 men, women and children were living in emergency accommodation in June 2026. This is an increase of 37 children since May.

Over the 12 months since June 2025, the data reveals an increase of 1,567 (9.8%) in emergency accommodation: 

• 2,706 were families, marking a 17% (386) increase over the year
• 5,620 were children, showing a 13% (662) rise in the same period 
• 2,073 were 18-24-year-olds, marking a 10% (180) increase over the year 
• 285 were over 65-year-olds, marking a 14% (14) increase over the year 

Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said children are essentially growing up, in emergency accommodation.

"Behind every one of these figures is a child whose education, wellbeing and future are being affected by the trauma and uncertainty of homelessness. 

For most children, the summer holidays are a time for playing outdoors and making happy memories with family and friends. But for thousands of children experiencing homelessness, summer means another day in a hotel room or family hub, often sharing a single room with their family and with little space to play, learn or simply be children.

Summer can also bring additional pressures for families experiencing homelessness. Without the structure of the school day, many parents face increased childcare costs while also losing access to school meals, putting even greater strain on already stretched household budgets."

These figures exclude the thousands of people, including children, in direct provision with leave to remain. They also exclude women and children being accommodated in domestic violence refuges. 

New figures released by the Central Statistics Office yestersday show that the number of houses completed between April and June this year is down 3.6% compared to the same three months in 2025.