Housing needs and homelessness overtook substance use as the most common reason people sought support from the Ana Liffey charity last year, its annual report shows.
The 2025 report showed that housing-related issues accounted for 27.8% of all support needs last year, ahead of substance use and treatment at 23%.
Founded in 1982, Ana Liffey’s core mission has been to provide low-threshold harm reduction services to people actively using substances.
While there is often a crossover between addiction and homelessness, many of those supported by Ana Liffey last year were not in addiction, but were struggling to find somewhere to live.
The rise in the number of people seeking help with homelessness marks a shift for the charity, which has pointed to increased economic pressures as a reason.
The organisation has been supported by both the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive and Limerick City Council in its work.
CEO Dawn Russell said there was a sense that people were one paycheck away from a risk of homelessness.
Requests for support last year included social support/welfare at 15.3%, training and education at 10.1%, physical health at 9.1%, legal/criminal justice at 5.3%, harm reduction supplies at 4.8%, mental health at 4% and family/relationships, including domestic violence, at 0.6%.
The report showed early successes through Ana Liffey’s partnership with Dublin’s Drug Treatment Court Programme, which is supported by the Department of Health and the HSE.
Ms Russell believes the model can work in different communities across Ireland.
“We have seen many early successes, the enhanced work is already helping participants to achieve much better outcomes as we are there beside them, supporting them to succeed,” she said.
The charity’s Law Engagement and Assisted Recovery team expanded its Good Neighbour outreach service, targeting areas of high anti-social behaviour to connect with people and offer support.
It carried out 651 “pro-social and support interventions” as part of this last year.
The charity has chosen to launch its annual report on International Overdose Awareness Day to celebrate recovering clients and to remember those who have passed away through overdose, suicide and complex health conditions related to poverty.