Our Impact

Since beginning operations in 2009, MLRC has made aprofound impact on individuals and families. At the heart of our work is a human-centered approach. The absence
of a secure home erodes the foundations of dignity, well being, and belonging. By working directly with those facing housing insecurity, we witness not only the hardship, but also the remarkable strength, resilience and potential of people when given the proper support. Our impact lies in these moments, when access to the right assistance has the potential to change the course of a life or lives.

In 2024 our work reached hundreds of households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, many of whom were navigating multiple layers of vulnerability, including trauma and domestic violence. Working alongside frontline homeless services, we were able to provide more holistic interventions.

In 2024 we experienced an unprecedented rise in demand for our services, reflecting the growing crisis facing individuals and families across the country. Requests for legal assistance rose by 15.5% compared to 2023. Over the course of 2024, we received a total of 2,973 calls, representing a significant increase from 2023 when we received 2,744 calls.

Each of these cases represented a person or family in need of safety, stability and justice. We worked to ensure that rights were upheld in situations where systems often fail or exclude the most vulnerable. Whether it is through a call, clinic, or collaboration, our impact lies in what these interactions enable: access to shelter, protection from harm, the preservation of family life and the restoration of hope. We measure success not only by the volume of work but by the change it makes to people’s lives.

In 2024 MLRC dealt with 155 clients based outside the Dublin area (46%) and 182 clients in the Dublin area (54%). This indicates our national reach which has continued to shift since 2022.

We conducted 18 in person legal clinics in 2024. 14 of these were held in the offices of the Liberties Citizens Information Centre in the Carmelite Community Centre, serving 17 households. We delivered 4 clinics in partnership with Crosscare, serving 7 households from migrant backgrounds.

We opened 351 new client files, of which 263 related to social housing and, within this, 61 related to other issues. Homelessness is the next most common reason for our clients to contact us, and 25% of the social housing enquiries were also about homelessness.

In 2024, there were 142 individuals advised about homelessness, with over 77 of these involving access to emergency accommodation, including refusals or issues with emergency accommodation conditions. Many cases focused on conditions were linked to individuals with health issues, addictions, or disabilities, underscoring the inadequacy of emergency accommodation for those with specific health or disability need.

More concerning is that MLRC received 178 queries via our helpline about emergency accommodation, up from 139 in 2023. Additionally, 38% of these queries were in respect of families who were either at risk of homelessness or were currently experiencing homelessness.