Focus Ireland Plans 1,000 New Homes, Expanded Services by 2030 Amid Rising Homelessness

Focus Ireland has unveiled its Joint Strategic Plan 2026 to 2030, titled «Turning the Tide», outlining an ambitious strategy to expand the provision of secure, affordable homes and enhance prevention and support services for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their residences. The charity aims to acquire or construct 1,000 additional homes over the next five years, which will increase its total housing stock to approximately 2,700 homes by 2030.

Beyond housing delivery, the strategy includes significant service commitments. Focus Ireland plans to assist 1,930 households in transitioning from homelessness into secure new tenancies. Additionally, its tenancy sustainment services are projected to support 1,750 at-risk households annually. The organization emphasized the urgency of these commitments, citing a sharp escalation in the national homelessness crisis.

Since the launch of Focus Ireland's previous strategy in 2021, homelessness has surged by 108%, increasing from 8,313 people in emergency accommodation in February 2021 to 17,308 people in February of the current year. CEO Pat Dennigan stated that the country cannot accept a state of permanent emergency as the new normal. He stressed that a reduction in overall homelessness hinges on the government's determined implementation and delivery of genuinely affordable homes at scale, urging greater urgency in addressing this human crisis. Mr. Dennigan affirmed that the strategy is based on Focus Ireland’s practical experience and that the rising numbers are not inevitable.