The Housing Bulletin

The Department for Communities released the latest batch of homelessness figures this morning. The statistics record another new high when it comes to households living in temporary accommodation in Northern Ireland. In October 2025, 5,408 households were living in temporary accommodation, compared with 2,930 in July 2020. This is an increase of 85% over the last five years.

The statistics show that in October 2025, 4,834 children aged under 18 were living in temporary accommodation (of which 2,508 were aged nine and under). This is an increase of 79% since July 2020.

Nicola McCrudden, Chief Executive of Homeless Connect said:

“Two weeks out from Christmas, we reach another negative milestone when it comes to homelessness here. The number of households living in temporary accommodation continues to spiral while allocations into social housing flatline. Too many households cannot get access to the housing they need.

The number of children who will spend this Christmas living in temporary accommodation is shocking. The anxiety and instability of homelessness is something that no child should ever experience, yet this is a reality for thousands of children living here.

Things do not have to be this way. These numbers reflect decades of choices made in Westminster and by Stormont. Different choices can lead to different and better outcomes.

The last year have seen some positive developments. The focus and funding for homelessness prevention being driven by the Department for Communities, Housing Executive and the homelessness sector will hopefully bear fruit in reducing the number of people going over the edge into homelessness. Homeless Connect will continue to press for collaborative, cross departmental working to go further and faster.

However, investment in both social housing provision and in supporting staff in the homelessness sector will be required if we are to turn the curve on these statistics. The failure to invest in enough social and genuinely affordable housing in recent decades has come home to roost. The failure to ensure that funding for the homelessness sector at least rises in line with inflation has contributed to a recruitment and retention crisis which shows no sign of abating.

The proposed multi-year budget being considered by the Executive will be a key moment. The relentless pattern of single year budgets has made things much harder and is an inefficient way of spending. This cycle must change. Sufficient capital funding for social housing is non-negotiable, as is funding to prevent homelessness.

Without such funding, more record highs will continue to be recorded with all the consequences this has for real people living here.”

-Ends-

Notes

Media enquiries 

For media enquiries, please contact Caoilfhionn Cassidy at caoilfhionn.cassidy@homelessconnect.org or by calling 07823 942213.

Notes to the editor:

1. Homeless Connect has been working to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Northern Ireland since 1983. As an umbrella body, we represent over forty organisations working in the independent homelessness sector. We also support people with lived experience of homelessness to have their voices heard. We provide services that directly benefit people and communities, helping to sustain tenancies and diverting surplus nutritious food to charities and other not for profit groups. homelessconnect.org
2. The Department for Communities has introduced a new distinction in its statistics when it comes to the number of children in temporary accommodation. Previously, they had counted the number of children living in temporary accommodation who were under 18 at the time of initial placement and described this as “a snapshot of the number of children in temporary accommodation as of the listed month.” Consequently, the previous statistics incorporated some children who had turned 18.
3. You can read the Department for Communities Homelessness Bulletin and the accompanying data tables  here.