“A social housing policy that relies so heavily on the private rented sector can never be the answer to the housing problem.”

There is a risk people can become desensitised to the depth of this crisis and we must always remember behind each single number is a child, a man or a woman who is homeless and who is suffering.

Tourists throw about €4,000 into the Trevi Fountain’s pools and cascades every day, which until now has been used to fund Caritas Italia's projects to help Rome's poor.

Don’t exchange unwanted Christmas gifts. Bring them to Pro-Cathedral – Crosscare.

“May all of us, by our love, bring light and hope to all whose lives are troubled this Christmas.”

“We must not tolerate the fact that nearly 4,000 children are homelessness in our society.”

Catholic Bishop of Meath and Church of Ireland Primate focus on the human cost of the homeless crisis in their Christmas messages.

“Think for a moment of what it would be like this Christmas to be without a home. To be without a place of shelter. To be out in the cold. To be on your own, living on the streets.”

To be adequately housed means having security of tenure – not having to worry about eviction. It means having the right to live somewhere in peace and dignity with access to appropriate services, schools, and employment.

“It is our hope and prayer that one day there will be no need for our service because everyone will have the social and financial resources to live life to the full as God intended.”

The lunch included lasagne, chicken pieces and mashed potato, with tiramisu for dessert.

“There continues to be a surge in people who desperately need help with housing. Additional housing must be delivered at a more accelerated rate."

With the numbers becoming homeless increasing every month, providers are having to run to stand still – Focus Ireland.

Two days after accepting President Trump's nomination, Judge Brett Kavanaugh was helping the Church feed the homeless on the streets of Washington, DC.

All children who need an assessment of mental health in emergency departments should be able to access this quickly – not days after the event – Dr Niall Muldoon.

The “hidden homeless” are people who often don’t have the option to declare themselves officially homeless and to put themselves on the local authority emergency accommodation list.

Homeless clients “very excited” and can’t believe pontiff is coming to visit them, says Brother Kevin Crowley.

"The slope of the aging population, along which Ireland is sliding, presents major challenges. Perhaps never before has there been such a need to care for the aging poor."

A record 9,104 people were homeless in January this year of which more than 3,000 were children

“Courageous and decisive plans and sufficient funding to overcome the suffering and the deprivation of those who live on the precarious margins of society” is needed, Archbishop stresses.

A key part of the event is that guests are given a spiritual and a festive welcome.

Catholic and Church of Ireland Archbishops of Armagh appeal to "seek to bring 'safety' into the lives of those around us".

Thousands of homeless children have become the norm and no longer shocks us. We have lost our sense of outrage,” - Fr Peter McVerry.

“The latest figures clearly show the homeless crisis is continuing to deepen and the government really needs to have this issue at the top of its agenda” – Focus Ireland.

The crisis of homelessness and poverty persists right across our diocese and our country

“The rising cost of rent is the main source of new homeless cases, and our worry is that we will see even more households losing their homes as the situation worsens”, Pat Doyle, CEO, Peter McVerry Trust.

Children aged under four are now the single largest age group experiencing homelessness, with Census 2016 identifying 765 homeless preschoolers.

Peter McVerry Trust hopes to see rapid-build housing play a bigger role in addressing homelessness in the future.

“We need consistent monitoring to ensure that we really get to the crux of this issue and stop more families from becoming homeless in the first place” – Focus Ireland.

Having a long-term approach to investing in services will prove more beneficial in building a more sustainable equitable society for our children.