The number of people homeless in Ireland has surpassed 13,000.
Latest figures from the Department of Housing show a total of 13,179 people were homeless in October, including 3,991 children.
It is the highest number of children living in emergency accommodation in Ireland since current records began almost ten years ago.
The overall number of homeless people in the State rose by 352 between September and October this year. By the end of October, 9,188 adults were homeless.
The report also shows that of the 1,939 families in emergency accommodation, 1,107 of which were one parent families.
The highest number of people homeless in October were in the 25-44 year age bracket at 4,850, followed by those aged between 45 and 64 years at 2,591.
'I try not to let the girls know they're homeless,' says mother
The Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland described the level of homelessness as "shocking".
Wayne Stanley said almost 4,000 children would spend Christmas in homeless emergency accommodation.
"When family homelessness was declared a crisis in 2014, it was less than 1,000 children", he said.
Focus Ireland said it was "a disgrace".
Director of Advocacy Mike Allen described it as heartbreaking to know that some of the homeless children "are only babies and will be spending their first ever Christmas homeless".
He said the right policies can prevent homelessness.
Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin said the true level of homelessness "is much higher" than today's reported figure.
He noted that the figure does not include women and children in Tusla funded domestic violence refuges, people with status trapped in Direct Provision using it as emergency accommodation, those in religious run hostels or rough sleepers.
Mr Ó Broin called on Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien to urgently "set out" what he intends to do to tackle the crisis.
Labour Leader Ivana Bacik said the number of children living in homelessness has exploded since Fine Gael was "first propped up" by Fianna Fáil in Government.
"As we continue to come to terms with the events of yesterday, we now must ensure that this Government does more, does better, for those 13,179 people living in homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, communities that have been neglected, and children that have been left behind," she said.
