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The recent Census data serves to reiterate the fact that an increasing number of Irish households are relying on the private-rented market. With fewer homeowners that ever before, an increasing number of households are relying on an over-heated and dysfunctional private rented market, resulting in overcrowding and sub-standard accommodation. The census also reveals an increase in the number of people in each household compared to the previous census, with 10% of people living in homes where there are more people than rooms. This is in part due to people who are hidden homeless, living in insecure, temporary accommodation, relying on friends and families – an arrangement that can easily break down.

Novas urges government to examine the range of vacant units nationally, particularly in urban areas. In our urban centres there are more than 95,000 vacant properties that offer a speedier solution to the housing and homeless crisis, than waiting for construction of tens of thousands of new homes. Many of these vacant properties have the potential to be brought back to habitable standards quickly. We eagerly await the government’s National Housing Reuse Strategy, due to be published next month and hope it has the urgency and resources to tackle the issue.

Single homeless people are among the most marginalised in the private-rented market. With a dearth of supply of one-bed units and the high demand and cost of such properties, single homeless people find it increasingly difficult to secure accommodation and remain stuck in homeless services unnecessarily. Many vacant city-centre properties could be transformed into one-bed units, which are so desperately needed.