A new study by homelessness charity Depaul explores how losing a home, a relationship breakdown or financial hardship can leave people without secure accommodation, challenging assumptions about who experiences homelessness.
Homelessness can begin with a single setback and develop into a series of problems that make finding another home increasingly difficult, according to research commissioned by Depaul.
The charity says people can lose their housing following a tenancy ending, the breakdown of a relationship, illness or the loss of family support. When several difficulties occur together, the consequences can be especially severe.
The findings challenge the perception that homelessness is always linked to rough sleeping, addiction or long-term personal difficulties. Participants included people who had jobs, were studying or caring for others before losing their accommodation.
The research, conducted by Coyne Research through in-depth focus groups with Depaul service users across the island of Ireland, examined how people became homeless, their experiences while without secure housing and what helped them rebuild their lives.
Depaul said the accounts showed how quickly a person’s circumstances can deteriorate when housing becomes insecure and other sources of support disappear.
Five pathways identified in the research
The study identified five broad routes into homelessness. Researchers stressed that people’s experiences often involved several overlapping circumstances rather than one isolated cause.
These included:
- Losing a home: A tenancy ending or being unable to secure another place to live.
- Relationship breakdown and domestic abuse: The loss of a shared home or the need to leave an unsafe situation.
- Family breakdown and bereavement: Changes in family circumstances that remove a person’s housing or support.
- Childhood adversity and care experience: Difficult early experiences that can affect housing stability later in life.
- Addiction, mental health difficulties and recurring homelessness: Challenges that may contribute to repeated periods without secure accommodation.
The charity’s findings suggest that homelessness is not necessarily the result of one decision or event. A person may face a housing loss while also dealing with unemployment, illness, a relationship ending or reduced support from relatives.
For some households, the financial margin is already narrow. The source material says rent can account for as much as 45% of a person’s income, leaving limited capacity to absorb an unexpected expense or disruption.
Losing a home means losing more than a place to live
People who took part in the study described the uncertainty of not knowing where they would stay, having little control over their circumstances and depending on other people or services for basic needs.
One participant compared their experience to being stranded on a small lily pad in the middle of the ocean, with no clear route to safety.
Others described losing the privacy and independence associated with having a home. Everyday activities such as preparing meals, washing clothes, sleeping properly and attending appointments could become difficult.
One participant said they had been living out of a bag for six years.
The accounts also revealed the emotional toll of homelessness, including isolation, shame and the struggle to maintain dignity.
For young people attending college, the experience could affect their social lives and their ability to participate in ordinary activities. One student described feeling self-conscious about being judged by others, despite people around them not knowing their housing circumstances.
Finding a home again can be a lengthy process
Participants described difficulties navigating the private rental market and accessing housing supports.
Some reported unsuccessful rental applications, problems involving Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), delays in council processes and uncertainty about when they would be able to move into secure accommodation.
The research also found that people did not always know what assistance was available. Some participants said they had discovered important supports by chance, highlighting the need for clearer information and guidance.
Moving into independent housing was often an important step towards restoring privacy, routine and control.
However, the transition could bring its own challenges for people who had spent years in supported accommodation and had developed close relationships with staff or other residents.
One participant reflected that adjusting to independent living could be difficult after becoming accustomed to the routines of supported accommodation.
Depaul describes its services as a source of stability
The study also examined the role of homelessness services in helping people recover.
Participants spoke positively about Depaul’s support, describing the charity as a source of stability, care and hope when other forms of assistance had fallen away.
The research highlighted the importance of individualised support and services that help people move towards independent living.
Participants also suggested practical improvements, including bringing empty properties into use, making housing assistance easier to access and ensuring greater consistency in the support available.
Depaul chief executive David Carroll said the findings challenged stereotypes about homelessness.
He said the research showed that losing a tenancy or experiencing a relationship breakdown could quickly leave people and families without secure accommodation when wider support systems failed to meet their needs.
Carroll said the charity wanted the experiences of people who had lived through homelessness to inform the development of services and public policy.
He also stressed the importance of listening to service users about what works and where improvements are needed.
Preventing homelessness means addressing housing insecurity
The research presents homelessness as a problem that can emerge when housing instability combines with personal or financial difficulties.
A tenancy ending, a sudden loss of income or the breakdown of a relationship may not inevitably lead to homelessness. But when people cannot find affordable accommodation or access timely support, those setbacks can become much harder to overcome.
Depaul’s findings underline the importance of preventing housing loss, improving access to assistance and supporting people into secure, long-term homes.
They also show why homelessness cannot be understood solely through the experiences of people sleeping rough. People may be without a stable home while continuing to work, study or care for family members.
The accounts gathered for the study offer insight into how homelessness begins, what it takes away from people and the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Focus keyword: homelessness in Ireland
Four short keywords: Depaul homelessness research, causes of homelessness, housing insecurity, homelessness prevention
Meta description: Depaul research identifies five pathways into homelessness in Ireland, highlighting how tenancy loss, relationship breakdown and other setbacks can leave people without secure housing.
Image alt text: A tent on a street in Cork, illustrating the experiences of people without secure housing.
Editorial checks before publication:
- Verify the study’s publication date and obtain the original research report, if available.
- Do not describe Depaul as formerly known as St Vincent de Paul. They are separate organisations.
- The research is based on qualitative focus groups. It identifies experiences and pathways but does not establish how common each pathway is across Ireland.
- If retaining the claim that homelessness is increasing, support it with recent official homelessness figures and specify the period and measure.
