There has been another record high in the number of people accessing emergency accommodation across the country.
Latest figures from the Department of Housing show a total of 12,600 people were in emergency accommodation in June, up 159 on the previous month.
The latest figures also show a new record number of 1,804 families in emergency accommodation.
It has reached a level not seen since it last peaked in July 2018 at 1,778.
Focus Ireland maintains this new record, and the loss of all the progress made during the pandemic, is partly due the Government decision to end the no-fault eviction ban at the end of March without an effective plan for dealing with the consequences.
CEO Pat Dennigan described the number of homeless families as "a terrible blight on our society".
The homeless charity Depaul said figures underlined the need for an emergency housing budget.
Its Chief Executive David Carroll said it did not appear that the number of people in temporary accommodation would reduce any time soon.
"The private rented sector has virtually collapsed and to see any significant reduction in those entering and exiting temporary accommodation, investment in housing must be ramped up at a more rapid pace," he said.
In a statement, Minster for Housing Darragh O'Brien said that tackling the issue is a priority for the Government.
He said: "Unfortunately we have seen an increase in the numbers of people in emergency accommodation. The situation is very challenging but the Government, local authorities and those in our NGO sectors are working together and making every effort to reduce homelessness."
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Pandemic progress last
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: "It’s shocking that we continue to reach record numbers of men, women and children in emergency accommodation each month, at a time when budget surpluses are running into billions of euro."
He said today's figures show the "stark realisation that the remaining shreds of the progress made on homelessness during the pandemic have been lost".
He added: "We also know that these figures, while indicative of the crisis, do not truly capture its scale. They do not include rough sleepers, those in squats, people in direct provision with status, those in women’s shelters, and those in 'hidden homelessness’."
Read more: Meeting the demands of housing and homelessness in Co Cavan
Increasing homelessness 'not satisfactory'
Tánaiste Micheál Martin expressed concern over today's homeless numbers, but defended the lifting of the no-fault eviction ban.
Speaking in Ballyvolane in Cork, Mr Martin said rising homelessness numbers was "not satisfactory", adding that the answer to the problem was housing supply.
He said the situation would be worse if the eviction ban had remained in place as it would have affected the supply of properties for rent.
Mr Martin said the rental market needed "a degree of certainty and clarity into the future" and that he hoped this could be addressed in the Budget.
The National One Parent Family Alliance (NOPFA), said it was "deeply concerned about the disproportionate and escalating levels of homelessness among one parent families".
NOPFA said: "Family Homelessness is now at a record high with 1,804 families accessing emergency accommodation in June 2023. Furthermore, the data highlights that family homelessness has increased by 165 since the ending of the eviction ban, but worryingly 115 out of the 165 (70%) are families headed by lone parents."
