Focus Ireland says the homeless crisis should be treated as a national emergency, as the charity deals with a record number of families seeking help.
77 families - including 155 children - became homeless in Dublin in July alone - 70 of them had never been homeless before.
While a homeless charity in Cork has reported a 26 per cent increase in demand for emergency beds.
Helen Vaughan spoke to mother of two, Katie, who says her life has been put on hold.
