As the Government prepares to publish Budget 2027 today, NOVAS is calling for urgent and sustained investment to reverse the continued rise in homelessness, prevent people from losing their homes and increase the supply of appropriate social housing.

With homelessness continuing to reach record levels and more than 5,500 children currently experiencing homelessness, the need for decisive action has never been greater.

NOVAS submitted its 2027 Pre-Budget Submission to Government in July, setting out a series of practical measures that the Government can take to shift the focus from responding to homelessness after it occurs towards preventing homelessness in the first place.

NOVAS is calling on Government to:

1. Invest at least €9 billion annually in public housing

Government must maintain at least €9 billion in annual public capital investment in housing to support the delivery of its commitment to over 60,000 homes each year. New social housing must be targeted towards areas of greatest need, including one-bedroom homes and larger family homes. Housing allocations should also be ringfenced for households experiencing long-term homelessness.

2. Restore the Tenant-in-Situ Scheme

The Tenant-in-Situ Scheme should be restored to its original preventative function, including funding for essential refurbishment works, with at least the 2024 level of funding restored. NOVAS is also calling for the restrictions introduced under Circular Housing 11/2025 to be reversed and for a streamlined national approvals process to allow acquisitions to take place before Notices of Termination expire.

3. Invest €100 million to bring HAP and Homeless HAP in line with market rents

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Homeless HAP limits must be increased to reflect prevailing rental costs. NOVAS estimates that an investment of at least €100 million is required to bring rent supports to an adequate level and prevent further housing insecurity and homelessness.

4. Provide approximately €9.75 million for the annual HAP rent review

Government should provide the additional funding required to meet the maximum allowable annual rent review for existing HAP tenancies. NOVAS estimates that approximately €9.75 million will be required, based on around 53,000 supported households. NOVAS is also calling for the automatic indexation of HAP and Homeless HAP limits, ensuring that rent supports keep pace with changes in the rental market.

5. Provide €2 million annually for Child Support Workers

With more than 5,500 children currently experiencing homelessness, NOVAS is calling for dedicated funding of approximately €2 million per year to ensure that children living in homeless accommodation have access to Child Support Workers and trauma-informed, child-centred supports.

No child should have to experience homelessness without access to the specialist support they need to cope with its impact.

6. Provide full cost recovery for homeless services

Government must ensure that homeless services are funded at the full cost of delivery, with multi-annual budgets that reflect inflation and provide greater certainty for service providers. NOVAS is calling for increased base funding to address the gap between current levels of funding and the actual cost of delivering high-quality homeless services.

The continued rise in homelessness demonstrates the urgent need for Government to move beyond crisis response and invest significantly in prevention.

Budget 2027 represents a critical opportunity to increase the supply of appropriate social housing, strengthen homelessness prevention measures and ensure that children, families and individuals experiencing homelessness receive the support they need.

NOVAS thanks Government for considering its 2027 Pre-Budget Submission and remains committed to working in partnership with Government, local authorities and statutory agencies to provide high-quality services and housing supports to people experiencing homelessness, addiction and social marginalisation.

Sustained investment and coordinated action across Government will be essential to achieving the shared objective of ending long-term homelessness by 2030.

Read our full submission here

The Irish Homeless Policy Group, made up of organisations working at the frontline of the housing and homelessness crisis, have come together to outline 10 key actions on homelessness they are calling on the next government to include in the Programme for Government the parties are currently negotiating.

The organisations held a special event at Buswells Hotel (Tues Jan 7th, 2025) as the latest figures just issued last Friday show a record total of 15,199 people who are now homeless.

These actions are:

1. Develop collaborative structures to end homelessness.

Solving homelessness is a complex issue requiring persistent Government attentiveness and will require shared problem solving. The next Government should agree on new collaborative structures, with Cabinet support, for developing and implementing a new homelessness strategy with local authorities, relevant State bodies and organisations at the front-line.

2. Build Enough Homes

Ensure that over 55,000 homes are constructed each year to meet housing need across Irish society, including at least 15,000 new social homes to tackle the housing crisis and address homelessness. Work towards the goal of 20% of housing being social and cost rental, in line with the recommendations of the Housing Commission Report, to meet both the deficit and future need. Build the right kinds of homes such as one-bed and two-bed homes for smaller households, and larger homes for families stuck in homelessness, Traveller families, and families with status trapped in Direct Provision for years.

3. End Long-Term Homelessness by 2030 Set the goal of making sure no one is homeless for longer than 6 months by the end of the next Government term (2030), by dedicating 10% of new social housing supply to already long-term homeless households.

Use the Housing Commission report as a key driver and policy roadmap to help achieve this ambitious goal.

4. Prioritise Homeless Prevention Measures Prioritise and adequately resource a comprehensive homeless prevention plan and early intervention measures to prevent homelessness from occurring and reoccurring.

5. Ensure that nobody has to sleep rough, regardless of legal status.

Ensure that there are sufficient emergency beds so that no one ever has to rough sleep. In particular, ensure that everyone who seeks international protection in Ireland is provided with suitable accommodation while their claim is being assessed. Guarantee greater coordination between departments, agencies, and local government so that every person in Ireland is guaranteed decent shelter, regardless of nationality, gender, or legal status.

6. Develop a strategy for Private Rental Sector Devise and implement a strategy for the private rental sector, on foot of the previous Government’s Private Rental Sector Review, setting out a clear vision for the sector and the role it will play in the wider housing landscape in the long-term.

A well-rounded strategy, based on good-quality data, will ensure a balanced, fair and sustainable rental market that benefits all.

7. Fully implement the Youth Homelessness Strategy Implement the current National Youth Homelessness Strategy (2023-25) and develop a new ambitious successor strategy from 2026 to eliminate youth homelessness.

8. Introduce range of measures to tackle issues facing homeless families Commit to enacting the Homeless Families Bill (2017) which would ensure that local authorities place the best interests of the child at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families. Adopt a Housing First for Families approach to address the housing and support needs of families with more complex needs.

9. Improve Mental Health services for people experiencing homelessness Improve mental health services for people experiencing homelessness – with more focus on harm-reduction measures and increased HSE funding for mental health, drug and alcohol interventions.

10. Improve the transparency of access to homeless services Improve the transparency of access to emergency accommodation and homeless services, including the introduction of a new appeals system that would provide written reasons for any refusals to access emergency accommodation and social housing. Ensure that all local authority staff receive updated training to provide greater awareness of housing law.

The full document is available here.

We proudly launched our 2023 Annual Report on the 10th of October, which highlights the growing homeless crisis, the ways in which we continue to respond to the growing demand for services and the impact of our work on the lives of our clients.

We were honoured to have John Moran, Mayor of Limerick, officially launch our 2023 Annual Report in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick. Huge thank you to our partners in government, especially Julie Brosnan, Manager of the Clare Homeless Action Team who so kindly spoke at the event. We would like to thank everyone who attended and to all those who support us in making a real difference!

You can read the NOVAS 2023 Annual Report HERE