Housing Bulletin Published

This morning, the Department for Communities published the latest edition of its Housing Bulletin for January to March 2026.  As of 31 March 2026, there were 50,381 households on the social housing waiting list, of which 33,412 were recorded as having homelessness status.

Over the past decade, the total number of households on the social housing waiting list has increased by 34%, rising from 37,586 in March 2016 to 50,381 in March 2026. During the same period, the number of households with homelessness status grew from 15,075 to 33,412—an increase of 18,337 households (122%) over ten years. Compared to the previous year, March 2025, the number of households with homelessness status rose by 1,693, a rise of 5%.

Local Councils

Belfast City Council accounts for the highest number of households with homelessness status, at 10,737. In the last decade, this figure has more than doubled, increasing from 5,011 households in March 2016 (a rise of 114%).

Derry and Strabane follows, with the number of households with homelessness status rising from 2,280 in March 2016 to 4640 in March 2026—an increase of 104% over the period. Newry, Mourne and Down recorded a similar increase, with figures increasing from 1,580 households in March 2016 to 2,812 in March 2026, representing a rise of 78% over the decade.

Across Northern Ireland ten of the eleven council areas reported an increase in households with homelessness status compared with 31 March 2025. A marginal fall was recorded in Ards and North Down Council area.

Homelessness Presentations and Social Housing Allocations

In contrast, the number of homelessness presentations has remained broadly stable. During 2025/6, 16,085 presentations were recorded, compared with 15,905 in the same period the previous year (an increase of 180 or 1.1%). However, despite this relative stability, the overall number of households living with homelessness status has continued to grow.

The number of allocations to new applicants for social housing in 2025/6 stood at 5,943. This was a marginal fall on the previous year when 6,054 allocations were recorded. This is a fall of 111 or 2%.

Housing Supply

Commenting on these figures Nicola McCrudden, Chief Executive of Homeless Connect said:

“Once again, these figures show the number of households experiencing homelessness continuing to move in one direction – upwards. The single most effective way of turning this around is to build homes. The priority now must be unblocking social housing supply and moving from commitment to delivery. Too many barriers continue to delay progress, meaning homes are not being built at the scale or speed required.

The Minister for Communities is right to highlight public land as a key part of the solution, because funding alone will not close the gap. However, wider barriers continue to slow social housing construction. Removing these obstacles and accelerating delivery on public land must now be treated as an urgent priority. What is needed is decisive, collective action by everyone at the Executive table to clear these barriers and drive forward a sustained programme of delivery.”

The Homelessness Sector

Turning to the struggles facing the homelessness sector, Ms McCrudden added:

“Support services remain critical to both preventing and responding to homelessness. However, the charities we represent are constrained by short-term, currently quarterly, funding arrangements that make it extremely difficult to operate services. The sector needs certainty and long-term appropriate financial support otherwise services will be put at serious risk of reduction or closure.

A whole-system response is required—one that prioritises prevention, increases housing supply, and ensures people receive the right support at the right time. This must include legislative reform to enable a more preventative, rather than reactive, approach to homelessness. Without these changes, the upward trend reflected in today’s statistics will continue.”