By M10News Housing Desk | December 27, 2025
The depth of Ireland’s housing crisis has been laid bare in a collection of personal letters sent directly to the Minister for Housing, with families and individuals describing situations they say have pushed them into fear, instability, and exhaustion.
Released under Freedom of Information legislation, the letters offer an unfiltered view of the emotional, financial, and physical strain felt by people who say they have run out of options.
One of the most urgent appeals came from a young expectant mother who is weeks away from giving birth and has no permanent home secured.
She explained that she has been moving between relatives’ couches for months and fears bringing a newborn into such precarious living conditions.
Despite contacting her local authority repeatedly, she wrote that the only support offered so far has been temporary arrangements that do not meet the needs of a new baby.
Another letter came from a father of three who described living out of bags as he attempts to keep his children safe while moving between B&Bs and relatives’ spare rooms.
He said the constant uncertainty has taken a toll on his children, who now expect to pack their belongings weekly because they do not know where they will sleep next.
A number of letters came from people who are employed full-time but still unable to secure a rental home due to record-low availability.
One woman said she has submitted applications for “dozens” of properties and provided every requested document, yet rarely receives even an acknowledgment from letting agents.
She wrote that she has “done everything right” but remains stuck in a cycle of temporary accommodation, fearing that she will soon have nowhere left to go.
A grandmother caring for two young grandchildren said she has been unable to secure an affordable home because many landlords refuse to accept the Housing Assistance Payment.
She warned that the situation is placing her family at risk of homelessness, despite her efforts to meet every condition set by private landlords and the local council.
Another submission came from a logistics worker currently sleeping in his car following an eviction from his rented room earlier this year.
He said he showers in public facilities before work and spends each night driving between car parks to find places he feels safe enough to sleep.
In his letter, he said he works more than 50 hours a week yet still cannot secure a room due to high demand and soaring rents.
Across the correspondence, many writers said they had contacted councils, charities, and support services repeatedly but felt they were “going in circles.”
Several stated that writing to the minister was their final option after all other avenues had failed to provide a permanent or safe solution.
Housing charities have warned that the number of people presenting as homeless has reached unprecedented levels, with rising rents, evictions, and a shortage of rental supply driving the crisis.
As of December 2025, approximately 16,766 people are recorded in state-funded emergency accommodation an increase of nearly 1,500 compared to the same period in 2024. Over 5,200 children are expected to spend Christmas 2025 in emergency accommodation. Advocates note that these figures exclude people sleeping in cars, couch surfing, or in domestic violence refuges.
Critics argue that a disconnect between government housing targets and delivery has worsened the crisis. For January to September 2025, just 3,143 new social homes were completed against a target of 10,000, while cost rental and affordable purchase homes also fell far short of planned figures.
Policy changes, including restrictions on the “Tenant-in-Situ” scheme and reliance on expensive emergency accommodation, are cited by experts as factors directly contributing to the rise in homelessness. Local authorities currently spend 18 times more on hotels and B&Bs than on prevention or long-term housing.
The Department of Housing said each letter was forwarded to the relevant local authority to ensure individual cases receive attention.
A spokesperson added that the Government remains focused on increasing housing supply, delivering more social homes, and expanding tenant protections.
However, campaigners argue that the crisis is worsening faster than policy responses can contain it, leaving vulnerable households caught in a system they feel is failing them.
While the Government plans to build 303,000 homes by 2030, the letters highlight that the reality in 2025 leaves many people in crisis today, with full-time employment no longer guaranteeing a roof over one’s head.
For those who wrote to the minister, the concern is not about targets or long-term strategies but the immediate fear of losing the last bit of stability they have.
As one letter concluded: “I am scared for my family. I am scared for myself. Please help before it is too late.”
Editing by M10News Housing Desk | Contact: housingdesk@m10news.com
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