Press release: Thursday 06 November 2025
A new report funded by the National Disability Authority through its Research Promotion Scheme, and led by Trinity College Dublin, has uncovered significant accessibility barriers in homeless hostels for individuals with mobility impairments. The report conducted by Dr Julie Broderick, formally of School of Medicine at Trinity, was recently published and is the first study of its kind in Ireland looking at the access needs of people who are homeless alongside the accessibility of the hostels they are living in.
The report An Exploration of the Scale and Impact of Physical Disability in People Experiencing Homelessness in Ireland contains information on 547 individuals who used homeless hostel accommodation in Dublin and Cork city centres on a given night during the summer of 2024. Findings revealed that nearly one quarter (22.7%) had some form of mobility impairment. Notably, almost half (49.6%) of those with mobility challenges were housed on upper floors. In those with mobility challenges, almost one third (32%), were accessing a bathroom with no accessibility features such as a grab rail and only half had access to a toilet located off their room.
A follow-up interview-based study involving 24 participants - including people experiencing homelessness and key stakeholders - highlighted how physical disability deepens vulnerability, stigma, and isolation. Some described being unable or afraid to leave their accommodation, further compounding their exclusion. Despite these challenges, participants expressed high satisfaction with hostel staff and a sense of hope for the future.
The report calls for mobility screening during bed allocation, staff training in disability support, retrofitting of existing hostels and universal design in new builds, long-term care planning for individuals with complex physical needs, integration of accessibility into inspections and national homeless strategies.
Author of the study Dr Julie Broderick, formerly Trinity College Dublin, now Associate Professor in University College Dublin:
“Almost 1 in 4 people surveyed had some form of physical disability, yet less than half had access to accessible accommodation. This intersection of disability and homelessness creates a cycle of exclusion that demands urgent attention as it leaves some unable or afraid to leave their accommodation due to mobility challenges and fear of discrimination, which intensifies the emotional toll of being homeless.
This report calls for urgent improvements in hostel infrastructure to better support the complex needs of homeless individuals with physical disabilities.”
Dr Aideen Hartney, Director of the National Disability Authority:
“In recent years, our Research Promotion Scheme has focused on strengthening the evidence base on how intersectional identities shape disabled people’s lives. We welcome the publication of this important research - the first study of its kind - and hope it will inform policies and practices that enable homeless disabled people to live with dignity, respect, in greater comfort and safety. It also highlights the importance of broader housing policy incorporating the accessibility needs of the full population so that those exiting homeless services can find suitable accommodation in our communities in the longer term.”