NI hits another grim milestone with over 5,200 households and over 4,700 children living in temporary accommodation

Temporary Accommodation

The Department for Communities released the latest batch of homelessness figures this morning. The statistics show that the number of households living in temporary accommodation has more than doubled over the last five years. In May 2025, 5,220 households were living in temporary accommodation, compared with 2413 in January 2020. This is an increase of 116%.

The statistics show that on 9 May 2025, 4,730 children aged under 18 were living in temporary accommodation (of which 2,480 were aged nine and under). This is an increase of 76% since January 2020 when 2,685 children were living in temporary accommodation.

The statistics report that 2,652 (56%) children were living in temporary accommodation the Belfast City Council area. Derry City and Strabane Council records 491 children (10%) with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon recording 347 children (7.3%).

Homelessness Presentations

Between October 2024 and March 2025, 7,637 households presented to the Housing Executive as homeless.  5,135 households were accepted as homeless. In both cases, there are falls on the numbers recorded in the previous year.

Belfast recorded the highest rate of presentations with 7.1 presentations per 1000 people (2,486 presentations in total between April and September).

They were followed by Derry City and Strabane Council (870 presentations) which had a rate of 5.8 and Mid and East Antrim Council area at 4.4. The average number of household presentations per 1000 people across NI was 4.0.

Nicola McCrudden, Chief Executive of Homeless Connect said:

“The news that the number of households living in temporary accommodation has once again hit an unprecedented high comes as no surprise to the homelessness sector.

Despite the incredible efforts being made by the sector, far too many people are finding themselves trapped in temporary accommodation for lengthy periods of time.

The fact that over 4,700 children are living in temporary accommodation is shocking. As a society, we must not accept that this is normal or acceptable. There are real life consequences for children, 2,480 of whom are under 9, in terms of health, wellbeing, education and life chances.

Increasing Housing Supply

It is likely that the numbers living in temporary accommodation, with all of the personal costs this has for people impacted, will continue to rise until we NI Executive and delivery partners find ways to increase housing supply for social and affordable homes.

According to the Department for Communities, around 70% of households leaving temporary accommodation move into permanent social housing. Without a significant increase in supply of social housing, it is likely the numbers in temporary accommodation will continue to increase.

We fully acknowledge that the Department for Communities has taken positive steps in terms of introducing intermediate rent and considering other housing options. However, the fact that only 1,000 social housing new starts can be started in 2025/6 compared to a target of over 2,000 in the Housing Supply Strategy and Programme for Government does not bode well for seeing these households finding permanent homes to live in soon.

The NI Executive has collectively agreed the Housing Supply Strategy which provides the roadmap for change here. The Executive now needs to put in the hard yards, set up effective oversight arrangements and the required resources to start delivering.

The UK Government is seeking to significantly increase investment in the delivery of social housing and we need to follow suit. Yesterday’s spending review provides an opportunity for planned, long-term investment to increase housing supply. This must be grasped to drive forward innovation in housing solutions.

Supporting the Homelessness Sector

The homelessness sector itself is struggling financially and faces the prospect of real terms cuts in 2025/6 if the initial budget allocation is confirmed. This arises from the fact that the Department for Communities proposes to freeze the Supporting People programme at the same level as 2024/5, despite the impact of inflation as well as the changes to Employers National Insurance Contributions.

A strong and properly resourced homelessness sector is a necessary condition to turning the curve on homelessness. The budget this year will make things worse for an already struggling sector.

As a sector, we believe real change is possible. The Department for Communities and the wider Executive have put in place some solid foundations, but they now have to deliver in terms of resources. If they fail to do so, more families will find themselves in temporary accommodation with all that means for them.”

Notes

1. 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. On the previous measure, the number of children in temporary accommodation rose to 5,498, up from 5,378 in November 2024.
2. You can read the Department for Communities Homelessness Bulletin and the accompanying data tables here.
3. The Department for Communities around 70% of households leaving temporary accommodation move into permanent social housing https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/consultations/communities/dfc-budget-2024-25-eqia.pdf (p57)