'Patronising, dystopian' - Housing video backed by Government sparks nationwide backlash

A Government-backed video advising adults on how to 'cope' with moving back in with their parents has sparked widespread backlash online, reigniting debate about Ireland's housing crises and the State's response to it.

The short video, produced by SpunOut and shared by the Department of Housing, attempts to offer guidance to adults who may find themselves returning to their family home due to financial pressures.

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But instead of reassurance, it has been met with accusations of tone-deafness, condescension and political detachment from the reality facing a generation locked out of housing.

The video videos two young people offering tips such as setting household rules, paying rent or contributing to bills, managing conflicts - essentially guiding how to adjust to being back living under the same roof as your parents.

Moving back in with family after living out of home can take some time to get used to. It’s okay to need & ask for support. For resources and advice see Supports Guide for Young People https://t.co/7lKHQW8wYo pic.twitter.com/shjtp0TsxQ

— Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) December 6, 2025

People on social media were quick to comment as soon as the video was released with many calling it "patronising and dystopian", with many seeing it as an admission by government that adults are expected to regress into childhood due to the lack of affordable housing, as one person said "I've never been so disappointed. The government should be fixing housing, not telling us how to tolerate it.

Opposition government were also quick to weigh in with Sinn Féin labelling it "insulting" and said they had actually mistake it for an article from Waterford Whispers. They also said it was gaslighting young people describing the video as a "two finger salute" to those struggling to afford rent or secure a mortgage.

For many, the anger stems from what the video represents - decades of inadequate housing supply, soaring rents and sluggish delivery of social and affordable homes that have pushed countless adults, along with their own families, back to their parents homes.

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Other comments included, 

"This is a disgrace, your government has locked my generation out of house ownership and rents among are the highest in Europe and this is your solution, advising adults on how to move back home. Shame on you all."

And,

"My brother had to move back into the family home in his 40’s. 4 years later, he had scraped together a deposit. Now he is priced out of the market by an influx of buyers, with massive deposits and cash buyers. From outside the state. He doesn’t need to be patronised like this."

Over the past decade, house prices have risen dramatically, and rents have outpaced wages. Even as new homes are being built, supply continues to fall short of the estimated 50,000 homes needed annually to meet demand. 

Government initiatives, from Housing for All to the more recent Delivering Homes, Building Communities plan, have promised record spending, planning reforms and an acceleration of building targets.

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While delivery has improved in some areas, particularly in social housing output, it's not enough to reverse the crises or meet the needs of an extending population. Meanwhile, homelessness continues to reach new highs, with numbers in emergency accommodation hitting record levels in recent months.

To many, this video feels like an attempt to offer coping strategies for a situation the government has created rather than addressing the actual crises. It also excludes those across Ireland who do not have the safety net of a family home to fall back on.

The video shows a lack of government understanding and accountability as it seems to push the idea that living back with your parents is the "new normal", as one comment said, "We don't need coping tips, we need homes."