Homeless children could be at risk of long-term damage to their physical and mental health.

A Focus Ireland report shows they face a number of challenges - including a lack of certainty and overcrowding in homeless accommodation.

They were based on in-depth interviews with 25 families who had exited homelessness between 2014 and 2016.

The homeless charity has also announced that so far this year, its Family Homeless Action Team (HAT) has supported over 300 families to move out of homelessness.

The charity says this report will help it to refine its services "to help greatly reduce and eliminate any longer term impact on children who have been homeless."

The findings indicate that younger children appeared to recover more quickly than older children.

Parents said their greatest fear was that their children have been exposed to activities such as drunkenness, drug taking, rows and violence involving other residents of the homeless emergency accommodation.

Mike Allen is from Focus Ireland.