Special housing may be required for vulnerable groups such as the homeless, Travellers, older people and people with disabilities. These needs may influence the design of housing or nature of support, where accommodation only forms one element of the response to problems experienced by vulnerable groups.  For the most vulnerable groups (e.g. homeless persons, persons with addictions, persons with mental health issues), interventions in this area generally require an inter-agency response particularly where there is a care dimension to the supports required.

Travellers
The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998 required local authorities, following a consultation process, to prepare and adopt accommodation programmes to meet the existing and projected accommodation needs of Travellers in their areas.  

Older People
Local authorities provide special accommodation for older people. This is usually communal accommodation with special security features, for example, wardens, security cameras etc. If aged 55 or over a local authority will make an assessment for older persons housing. 

Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers are provided direct provision accommodation through the The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA). The RIA sources suitable accommodation and sites throughout Ireland for accommodating asylum seekers.

Homelessness
Homelessness is a complex social problem. The most primary need of people who are experiencing homelessness is appropriate long-term housing. In conjunction with the need for housing many people who are homeless have physical health, mental health, addiction or other support needs that must be addressed in order for them to be able to maintain long-term housing.

The Housing Act 1988 provided the first legal definition of homelessness in Ireland.Section 2 of the Act states:

‘A person shall be regarded by a housing authority as being homeless for the purposes of this Act if:

a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he, together with any other person who normally resides with him or who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of, or
b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution, and is so living because he has no accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), and he is, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide accommodation from his own resources.’