There was a 12% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin between 13 and 19 of April 2026 compared to the same period last year.
The count was arranged by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and carried out by the Dublin Simon Community Outreach Team.
It recorded 136 people sleeping rough in the Dublin region.
Additional Outreach workers were deployed by Dublin Simon for the count to ensure “comprehensive coverage” of city centre areas, according to the charity.
The charity has warned that the capital continues to carry “the overwhelming burden” of Ireland’s homelessness crisis.
Dublin Simon CEO Catherine Kenny said those counted share three stark realities; of sleeping rough, experiencing acute vulnerability, and having nowhere to call home.
“Shelter is a fundamental human right, and no one should have to bed down on the streets of our capital,” she said.
She said it reflected Government policy that is not keeping pace with demand and a support system that needs great capacity to respond to increasingly complex needs.
“Unless we address these issues, the numbers bedding down on the street will continue to grow regardless of how many emergency responses we put in place.
“That’s why we are calling for a nationally led Dublin Housing and Homelessness strategy, backed by dedicated funding and coordinated delivery,” she said.
A total of 53% of those sleeping rough had accessed emergency accommodation at some point in the past three months and 115 (85%) had previously been assessed or were assessed during the count week by the local authority.
Those assessed are registered in the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), an online shared system utilised by every homeless service provider and all local authorities in Ireland.
Ms Kenny said the findings must be viewed within the wider context of homelessness in Dublin.
Read more: Demand for Dublin Simon outreach services rises by 29%