Focus Ireland said homelessness in Ireland has risen to unprecedented levels.

Emergency accommodation is more expensive and less effective than Housing First which receives less than 1% of the national annual homeless budget in Ireland. In other countries up to 50% of the homeless services budget must be invested in the Housing First model.

“You’ve got those who are sleeping on the streets and it is disgraceful. You’ve got families living in hotel rooms which is a shame on our city” – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

There are 13 empty homes for every homeless adult in our cities.

It breaks my heart to think that up to 2,500 children will be homeless on Christmas day this year – Sr Stan, founder of Focus Ireland.

74 families became newly homeless in Dublin in April while almost quarter of a million houses remain empty across the country.

Peter McVerry Trust calls for “decisive action” by the Government to stem the flow of people into homelessness.

Latest figures show that 208 families and 363 children became homeless in the first two months of the year.

“Homeless families will end up having to sleep in Garda stations and hospital emergency departments for Christmas,” Jesuit warns.

411 families in emergency accommodation with 911 children according to Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE).

First service launched in Kildare with a 14-bed supported temporary accommodation service located in Newbridge.

Rough sleeper count in Dublin showed 59 people were sleeping rough in Spring 2011; now it is estimated to be 150 in Dublin and up to 224 people nationally.