Organisation warns prolonged stays are reducing access to emergency accommodation as pathways into secure housing remain limited.
NOVAS today launches its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the growing length of time people are spending in homelessness and the urgent need to increase access to appropriate, long-term housing.
In 2025, NOVAS supported 6,211 people, including 1,417 children, across its services, providing accommodation, housing and support to people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, addiction and social marginalisation. While this was a slight decrease on the 6,300 people supported in 2024, the report makes clear that this does not reflect a reduction in need. Instead, people are remaining in emergency accommodation for longer periods as access to suitable housing and move-on options becomes increasingly limited.
The pressure on emergency accommodation is particularly evident among single adults. Across NOVAS emergency homeless accommodation, the average stay in 2025 was 307 nights, or more than ten months. More than 80% of people entering NOVAS homeless accommodation came either from another homeless service or directly from rough sleeping, while just 1% came from stable private rented or social housing. Almost half (48%) came directly from rough sleeping, with this proportion highest in Limerick.
Prolonged stays also limit the availability of emergency accommodation for people newly experiencing homelessness. As people remain in emergency accommodation for longer, fewer places become available for others who need support, reinforcing the importance of creating effective pathways from homelessness into secure housing.
Nationally, family homelessness remained a significant concern throughout 2025, with 5,188 children living in emergency accommodation by the end of the year. Against this backdrop, NOVAS supported 1,417 children across its services and housing, with 757 children living in secure NOVAS tenancies by year-end.
Una Burns, Interim CEO and Head of Advocacy and Communications at NOVAS, said:
“The 2025 Annual Report shows that people are spending longer periods in homelessness, as access to suitable housing remains limited. Emergency accommodation is intended to provide short-term support, but for many people it is becoming a much longer-term reality.
“However, homelessness is not inevitable; it is solvable. Housing remains central to the solution. People must be able to move from emergency accommodation into secure homes. With the right investment in housing, prevention and support, we can reduce the time people spend without a home and create genuine pathways out of homelessness.”
Despite the pressures facing the homelessness system, NOVAS continued to create pathways towards greater stability throughout 2025. As an Approved Housing Body, NOVAS added 24 homes to its housing stock, providing homes for an additional 26 adults and 18 children. By the end of the year, 364 NOVAS homes provided secure tenancies for 1,463 adults and children across Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, Limerick and Dublin. The Annual Report records 364 housing units and 1,463 tenants at year-end.
The 2025 Annual Report reflects both the continued scale and complexity of homelessness and the progress that is possible when people are supported towards safety, stability and a home of their own. For NOVAS, the focus remains on reducing the time people spend in homelessness, preventing homelessness where possible, and creating sustainable pathways into secure housing.
