Mike Allen

Director of Advocacy, Communications and Research @FocusIreland: challenging homelessness, changing lives. Former President of @Feantsa.

[Michelle Norris @mcmnorris]

In March the government introduced rent regulations that disincentivise supply of regulated tenancies, in proper dwellings by small landlords who pay 50%ish tax on rent. In April it incentivised supply of fancy sheds subject to no tax, occupied by licencees with no tenancy rights

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Homelessness can be solved if the right policies and political are in place. While we welcomed much of the Govt's new housing strategy, it will be judged by results. State must deliver more 1 & 4 bed homes to speed up exits for families & individuals trapped in homelessness.

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

https://t.co/Mi7N06cOYl

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

New figures issued by the Department of Housing show another record total of 15,915 people now homeless.

This is an increase of 168 people for June 2025 on the 15,747 people homeless in May.

The figures show that homelessness has risen 11% in the last year when compared with June 2024.

There are now 4,958 children in 2,320 families who are homeless.

Reacting to the figures Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “We should always take time to remember that behind every single number is a man, woman or child suffering the trauma of losing their home. Homelessness hurts everyone and it hurts children the most. It is heartbreaking that nearly 5,000 children are having their childhoods stolen one day at a time. We need to end child homelessness for good.’’

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

If the Minister was serious about this he would be proposing a rights based approach to homelessness. Instead the Government is planning to reduce homeless people’s rights to shelter. Equalize upward, not down.

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

Regrettable, divisive stuff. It has always been completely in the power of the Irish state to give homeless people a legal right to shelter. “Court ruling would give newly arrived asylum seekers more rights than homeless people, Minister claims” https://t.co/KeHs1StZ1p

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

https://t.co/vYDMDgIgJT We held a special event today to highlight the serious issues with HAP that are acting to drive people into homelessness. Delighted to have a rep from @OfficeOmbudsman & @mcmnorris speaking today with @MikeAllenFI & Head of A&I @focusireland Conor Roe.

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

@danobrien20 @Pidge @mcmnorris Since the breakdown is by ‘Government function’ is there a potential issue here that Irelands main ‘housing benefit’ HAP is paid for through its housing department while in most states ‘housing benefits’ are paid as a form of income maintenance through welfare?

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Mother describes being made homeless as 'traumatic' and 'difficult' https://t.co/n3eS2KQ9zH

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

New figures issued by the Department of Housing show yet another new record high total of 15,747 people are now homeless. This is an increase of 167 people for May 2025 on the 15,580 people homeless in April.

The May figures also found 69 more children (4,844) and 28 more families (2,273)compared to April 2025. The figures show that homelessness has risen 11% in the last year when compared with May 2024.

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the “government’s current approach to homelessness is failing”.

https://t.co/SJy1yJm45F

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said the figures show "the Government's current approach to homelessness is failing".

"There needs to be far more urgency in the Government's response to help end this terrible human crisis," he added.

https://t.co/tddRO43Rvw via @rte

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

https://t.co/O7rmnLIXnh

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

@mollox @FocusIreland @rtenews Thanks for the support, Peter. Just to be clear, we are not opposed to private investment. Agree about the importance of local authorities building.

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

Some of the positive things will take a few yrs for full impact (6 yr security only on new leases after Mar 26), so no short term fixes here. Reaction of landlords (esp smaller landlords) will be important & may test the protections of long term tenants on below market rents.

[Mike Allen @MikeAllenFI]

Just out of @DeptHousingIRL briefing on new rent regs. Important step forward with new 6 year secure tenancies. Grave concerns about impact of ‘market rent resets’ on low income (and mid-income!) renters, but welcome Minister’s view that HAP rates to be reviewed (at long last).

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Our Director of Advocacy, Communications, and Research @MikeAllenFI speaking in a panel discussion at the #ISHF25 in the Dublin Convention Centre.

The discussion followed an incredible speech by lecturer and activist @katrionaos about her experiences of overcoming poverty and how policy can change lives.

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Focus Ireland is proud to now provide 1,700 homes in Ireland through Focus Housing Association. The tour aims to tell the story of our work in housing over the years. #Endhomelessness #Focushousing

[Focus Ireland @FocusIreland]

Take a walking tour on Wed 4th June through Focus Ireland’s social housing projects in Dublin as part of @icsh_ie International Social Housing Festival #ISHF The tour starts 2pm Stanhope Green Dublin D07 THH3 1/3