Ireland’s Ukraine housing shift risks leaving some homeless

Ireland’s planned overhaul of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees could leave “one or two” people without a place to stay, a senior minister has acknowledged, as the government prepares to scale back emergency housing supports that have been in place since the start of the war.

Colm Brophy, minister of state for immigration, conceded the risk while insisting authorities are working to prevent a sudden disruption as thousands are pushed toward independent living. The new strategy — expected to go before cabinet shortly — will begin rolling out from August and aims to phase out long-term state-funded accommodation for Ukrainians, The Times writes.

Under the plan, around 16,000 people currently housed in hotels and other state-funded facilities will be required to secure their own housing. The move is designed to align earlier arrivals with newer beneficiaries of temporary protection, who are entitled to just 30 days of accommodation upon arrival.

Asked about the potential consequences for those unable to find housing, Brophy said:

“I think, on balance, that people will find accommodation.”

However, he acknowledged there could be “one or two instances” where they might not.

“I imagine that we’ll have somebody talking to a journalist and saying they can’t find accommodation,” he said. “But overwhelmingly, what we’ve found to date is that Ukrainians are very, very resilient in terms of finding accommodation, because there is a strong Ukrainian community here.”

Brophy pointed to departmental data suggesting that when emergency accommodation contracts ended over the past year, roughly half of Ukrainians secured housing independently rather than relying on alternative state offers.

“I believe, with the continuation of that type of trend and those type of figures, that we will be able to manage this through,” he said. “Yes, it is a transition, there’s no question it is a transition, but we don’t want the cliff edges.”

The transition will be phased over six months, with individuals given a minimum of three months’ notice to make alternative arrangements.

“We’ve announced that we want to start that in August, with a view to implementing it over the following months,” Brophy said. “We want to give people time to make alternative arrangements. We want people to be aware of what’s coming up by the second half of the year, so there’s plenty of lead-in time.”

Ministers argue the current system is no longer sustainable, citing both financial pressures and concerns over fairness. According to the government, a two-tier system has emerged, with some Ukrainians benefiting from long-term state housing while newer arrivals receive only short-term support.

“We don’t want to see a problem for Ukrainian people. We genuinely don’t,” Brophy said. “But we do want to see a situation where we have equality and fairness across the board, which means that when it comes to accessing accommodation, you’re accessing it on the same basis as somebody who is working away and living in Ireland and who is looking for accommodation as well.”

However, the plan has drawn sharp criticism from refugee advocates and opposition figures, who warn it could drive thousands into Ireland’s already strained rental market and increase pressure on homelessness services.

Nick Henderson, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, described the policy shift as “really, really problematic,” arguing that hotel accommodation has served as a crucial safeguard against destitution.

The strategy also envisions the gradual reduction and eventual elimination of the €600 monthly accommodation recognition payment for hosts, set to end by March 2027. Officials say safeguards will remain for vulnerable individuals, but concerns persist over how the transition will unfold.

By Sabina Mammadli