More than 260 homeless in the midlands

There were 262 people homeless in the midlands at the end of last month. Official figures also showed that nationally the number of people homeless and living in emergency accommodation has hit another record high, at 15,286.

The figures from the Department of Housing indicate that 4,603 children were homeless nationally from January 22 to January 26.

The overall homeless figures are now at record levels, and up by 422 people from the figures in December 2024.

In the midlands, there was a slight reduction in the numbers in emergency accommodation, from 268 in December to 262. The midlands figures for January comprise 191 adults and 71 children. There is a county breakdown for the adults, but not for the children.

Of the 191 adults using emergency accommodation in the midlands, 76 were in Westmeath, 63 in Offaly, 35 in Laois and 17 in Longford.

The Department of Housing’s official homelessness statistics are published on a monthly basis and refer to the number of homeless persons accommodated in emergency accommodation funded and overseen by local housing authorities during a specific count week, typically the last full week of the specific month.