Older People’s Housing Crisis Demands Urgent Action, Says ALONE | ALONE Calls for Immediate Focus on Housing Amid Rising Homelessness and Rental Insecurity
ALONE, the national organisation that enables older people to age well at home, today welcomed the publication of the Simon Communities report Older Adult Homelessness in Ireland, which highlights the growing and deeply concerning issue of homelessness among older people. The report makes clear that strategic, preventative approaches are essential to addressing this issue and protecting older people from housing insecurity later in life.
Last year, ALONE staff and volunteers supported almost 46,500 older people through its services. This increased focus is welcome, as the organisation has seen an increase in older people seeking support for housing difficulties over the past decade. ALONE has raised growing concerns about the housing crisis confronting Ireland’s ageing population, including an 83% increase in older renters in the most recent Census (CSO, 2022), declining rates of home ownership (ESRI, 2022), and a worrying rise in homelessness among older adults (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, 2025).
The organisation is calling for urgent action to ensure there is enough housing for an ageing population and older people can pay the rent when they retire. Preventative measures such as providing secure, affordable housing through local authorities and approved housing bodies, building social housing to Universal Design standards, and expanding smaller and supported housing options are essential to ensuring older people can maintain stability and independence as they age.
ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan said “This report shows that Ireland is not yet adequately prepared for the housing needs of a rapidly ageing population. With the right planning and sustained collaboration with housing authorities and delivery partners, we can stop older people from being pushed into homelessness and ensure they can age with security and dignity in their own communities.”
As the report published today demonstrates, homelessness in older age is particularly traumatic and is often associated with rapid deterioration in physical and mental health, increased isolation, and greater pressure on health and social care services.
ALONE is calling on Government to urgently plan for and deliver the housing required to meet the needs of older people by 2040. This includes the delivery of:
- 123,000 1- and 2-bedroom housing units
- 82,500 social housing units built to universal design
- 24,600 supportive housing (independent living) units, including 1,721 Housing with Supports
Seán Moynihan continued “Housing is central to dignity, independence, and wellbeing in later life. Government must explicitly address the housing needs of older people within the new Housing Action Plan for Older People if we are to prevent a crisis from unfolding. Without urgent action now, the housing insecurity experienced by younger adults today risks becoming the homelessness crisis of older age tomorrow.”
About ALONE
ALONE is a national organisation, with proven supports, that enables older people to age at home. Our work is for all older people and aims to improve physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. We have a national network of staff and volunteers who provide an integrated system of Support Coordination, Practical Supports, Support & Befriending, a variety of Phone Services, Social Prescribing, Housing with Support and Assistive Technology.
We use individualised support plans, to address health, financial benefits and supports, social care, housing, transport and other arising needs using technology and through harnessing other services. ALONE’s services reduce demand on health services while bringing meaningful improvements to older people where it matters most to them.
We work to empower the whole sector of community support for older people through our Community Impact Network that provides Training, IT support and resources to other organisations.
