Focus Ireland has said a record of approximately 18,800 people used its services last year.

The homeless charity’s annual report for 2025 also showed how it helped 4,787 children last year, an increase of 6.3% from the previous year.

Speaking at the launch of the report, CEO Pat Dennigan said the charity helped 702 households move out of homelessness into a secure long-term home and that 2,164 families engaged with its services.

Mr Dennigan said 2025 was another profoundly challenging year in terms of homelessness with numbers rising further.

He warned about what he said was a lack of urgency within the Government around homelessness and that it was “deeply frustrating that the child and family homelessness action plan has been postponed while more families continue to enter homelessness every month”.

He called on the Government to urgently progress the action plan, the national prevention framework and to review the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) scheme.

Mr Dennigan added that the annual teport also reflected on the passing of Focus Ireland’s founder, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, who died last year during the charity’s 40th anniversary year.

“She listened, recognised the person first – her humanity, intellect and determination shaped Focus Ireland from its earliest days and continue to do so,” he said.

One service user described the impact of getting the keys to her forever home after being supported by the charity.

Savannah Nguyen is now a Focus Ireland Lived Experience Ambassador.

She became homeless three years ago after having to leave her rented home while pregnant.

She described the difficulties of trying to find a HAP tenancy, her journey through emergency accommodation with her baby, and how Focus Ireland helped her get a place in a family hub.

A keyworker from the charity supported her through grief after her child’s father suddenly passed away and helped her return to education.

Savannah said living in one room with her child was lonely and isolating and that she and her now three-year-old son are thrilled to be in their new home.