This report is a ground breaking piece of research in the context of youths and emergency accommodation usage in the Dublin region. It is the first of its kind using PASS data to highlight the multifaceted nature of youth homelessness in the region. The report assesses the dynamics in the profile of young adults in the age group 18-24 years accessing emergency accomodation in year 2023 and the reason for homelessness for those that became homeless for the first time in that year. The report provides an opportunity to acknowledge the heterogeneous nature of youth homelessness and explore targeted pathways for homeless prevention, tailored to each specific group so as to effectively intervene and curtail youth homelessness from occurring in the first place.

All Young People, Aged 18-24 years, Accessing Emergency Accommodation (EA) An average of 1,128 young adults aged 18-24 years accessed emergency accommodation (EA) each month in the Dublin region in 2023, making up 18% of all adults in EA.

• Between 2015 and 2023, there was a 195% increase in the average number of youths accessing EA in the Dublin region.
• Between January 2023 and December 2023, the number of youth aged 18-24 years, accessing EA increased by 11.4%.
• Gender analysis shows that 52.1% of young people accessing EA each month were male and 47.9% were female.
• Citizenship analysis shows that 52.9% of young people accessing EA held Irish citizenship, while 24.2% and 22.5% held non-EU and EU (EEA) citizenship, respectively, with 0.4% holding UK citizenship.
• There are two distinct of groups of young adults accessing EA: (1) those accessing EA with other family members (50.8%) and those accessing EA as single individuals (49.2%).

Reasons for Homelessness: New Entries to EA, aged 18-24 years (see also, report page 31)

• For all new entries to EA in 2023, the dominant reason cited by young people for their homelessness was relationship breakdown with a parent (27.8%), which increased to 36.5% when conflict with other family members, partners and family circumstances were included.
• Analysis of reasons for homelessness for sub-groups – including singles, adult dependents living with a parent(s), one-parent households, couples with children and young people (18-24 years) with a partner aged 25+ years – who entered homelessness for the first time in 2023, shows that relationship breakdown in family settings was the dominant cause for homelessness for most of these sub-groups.
• For all groups, other reasons cited, including but not limited to family reunification, overcrowding, exit from Direct Provision and State care, and domestic violence.
• For 18 and 19 year-olds entering homelessness for the first time, the dominant reasons for their homelessness included relationship breakdown and leaving State care.