The vast majority of public spending on homelessness continues to be directed toward emergency accommodation, with little investment in prevention and long-term solutions, according to a report from Focus Ireland and Trinity College Dublin.
The "Focus on Homelessness" report shows that nearly €361 million was spent on emergency accommodation in 2024, which accounted for 86% of all homelessness-related expenditure.
5% of total spending was spent on prevention measures such as tenancy sustainment and resettlement support.
The report, which analyses public expenditure on homelessness from 2009 through to projected spending for 2025, shows that since 2014, the number of households in temporary and emergency accommodation has increased by 258%, rising from 2,419 to 8,669 by mid-2024.
It states that over €1.84 billion has been spent on providing emergency accommodation since 2013, with an increasing share going to private, for-profit providers.
In 2024, for every euro funding for homeless charities, three euros went to private for-profit providers, which it notes as "a dramatic increase" from almost equal funding in 2014.
Advocacy Director at Focus Ireland and co-author of the report Mike Allen has emphasised the need for a shift in spending priorities.
He said that while emergency accommodation is necessary to prevent people from having to sleep rough, it does nothing to address the root causes of homelessness.
"We need to rebalance our investment toward prevention and support services that offer lasting solutions. Continuing to pour money into temporary fixes without tackling underlying issues is not only ineffective but also unsustainable.
"These figures raise serious questions about the Government's decision to limit expenditure on Tenant-in-situ purchases, one of its most successful homeless prevention schemes," he said.
Mr Allen pointed to long-term, proactive strategies like the Housing First model and increased social housing delivery to break the cycle of homelessness.
