There's been a 20 per cent increase in the number of people turning to the country's Simon Communities for help.

The charity, which releases its annual report today, says its supporting 7-and-a-half thousand people who are currently experiencing homelessness.

It also claims that the numbers in emergency accommodation have risen to over 5-thousand - nearly double the figure this time last year.

The Simon Community is blaming a mixture of spiraling rents and a shortage of affordable housing for the problem.

But spokesperson Niamh Randall says there are several possible solutions: