Number of homeless Laois families more than doubles in a year
The number of registered homeless families in Laois has more than doubled in the past year, as the housing crisis continues and private rents keep rising. However more social homes have also been provided by Laois County Council’s homeless team.
There are now 14 families staying in emergency accommodation in Laois, and 32 single people.
All the families are placed in Bed & Breakfast properties, while the 32 single people are living in either B&Bs or hostels.
That compares to six families for the same period in 2025, and 28 single people.
The figures were supplied in the May management reports of 2025 and 2026 by Laois County Council.
The council’s homeless services team is carrying out more action to prevent homelessness and also find homes for people waiting in B&Bs and hostels.
In April 2025, the council had prevented two single people and one family from becoming homeless.
This year that has also risen, to 10 single people, and two families during April 2026.
They have been placed in social housing supplied by either Approved Housing Bodies, Laois County Council, or in private rented accommodation supported by a Housing Accommodation Payment (HAP) rent topup.
More homeless people are being given social homes this year too.
Last year three single people and one family got to move from emergency accommodation into permanent low-rent social housing, in May 2025. This May, the figure is five single people and two families getting keys to their new homes.
Up to the end of April this year, 118 extra Laois tenancies have been created, a figure that includes newly built social homes and relets.
That is also up on 2025, when keys to 74 social homes were given out in the same time period.
Many more people present themselves as homeless to the council’s offices in Portlaoise than are given emergency accommodation, after they are assessed.
During April this year, 14 single people and five families came to the counter seeking a home. Four singles and three of the families were given emergency placement.