Kildare's Homelessness Crisis Deepens Days After Tánaiste’s Meeting With Kildare Officials

According to the latest homelessness figures, 173 people were registered homeless in Kildare in September, up from 168 in August.

Tánaiste Simon Harris met with officials from Kildare County Council at Leinster House, joined by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Housing Minister James Browne, to ensure the council has the necessary support and resources in plac to “tackle the housing crisis.”

The meeting came against the backdrop of an increase in the number of people living in emergency accommodation across Kildare.

According to the latest homelessness figures, 173 people were registered homeless in Kildare in September, up from 168 in August. 

Nationally, the number of people registered as homeless has reached another new record.

New figures show 16 thousand 614 people were in emergency accommodation in September, an increase of more than 250 on the previous month.

That includes over five-thousand children, 93 more than the figure for August.

Speaking to Kfm, the Tanaiste said it is important that local authorities work "hand in glove" to ensure they have what they need "solve the housing crisis".

He said he is well aware of the challenges Kildare faces, around infrastructure, schools, community facilities and housing.

The meeting was described as "productive".

The Tánaiste said he looks forward to working with council officials in the future on the new National Planning Framework.

Part of the Framework’s aim is to help local authorities understand how to apply national housing targets at a local level, so they can identify how much land needs to be zoned for new housing.

The plan details how in order to deliver the revised population and housing targets, services and infrastructure must be carefully coordinated and prioritised. 

This means ensuring that essential supports - such as education, childcare, healthcare, and recreational facilities - are in place to enable housing development.

Details below explain how Kildare's emergency accommodation system works.

How the system works

During working hours (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm), the council’s Homeless Team carries out assessments. If a person or family is deemed homeless, temporary accommodation is supposed to be arranged.

Outside office hours, the council operates a Freephone service in partnership with the Peter McVerry Trust. 

This service runs from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays, and from 12 noon to 5pm at weekends. 

Where no accommodation is available for a household, efforts are made to secure an emergency placement for that night. 

The household must then present to the council the following working day for a full assessment.

Legal criteria

Eligibility is determined under Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. 

A person is considered homeless if they have no accommodation they can reasonably occupy, or if they are living in an institution such as a hospital or shelter because they have no alternative housing - and cannot secure accommodation from their own resources.

Current capacity

The council provides supported emergency accommodation across several sites:

Kerdiffstown, Naas - 50 beds

Newbridge - 20 beds

Athy - 11 beds

Additional capacity is created during the winter months through a Cold Weather Initiative, which adds 20–25 temporary beds.

There are also a number of transitional and specialist facilities:

Jigginstown Manor, Naas - 12 studio apartments for young adults (18–30) at risk of homelessness.

Osberstown Cottage, Sallins - a 5-bed shared facility for women, operated by Dublin Simon Community.

Family hubs - two hubs, in Athy and Prosperous, with capacity for 11 families, generally operating at full occupancy.

Transitional units - 24 units spread across the county’s five municipal districts.

Where supported or transitional accommodation is full or unsuitable, the council relies on hotels and B&Bs. 

Availability fluctuates daily and is managed through the Freephone service.

To contact the Kildare County Council's homeless team, call 045 980 230.