New research claims victims of domestic violence are being ignored in the housing crisis.

SAFE Ireland has found more than 4,000 women and children living in refuges aren't recognised as homeless.

Government figures at the end of February show that 912 families, including over 18,000 children, were in emergency accommodation. However that number doesn't factor in the majority of those in refuges.

SAFE Ireland says women and children taking shelter in a refuge are seen as 'out of a home' rather than having no home - but often those homes are too dangerous to return to.

The domestic violence organisation interviewed 40 women for the research and found that 2/3 had experienced physical abuse on a weekly basis.

Half reported a serious threat to their lives in the very first incident of violence.

Campaigners say the solution needs a two-pronged approach; access to a safe home and a justice system that takes them seriously.