New figures show the level of homelessness has increased again in April to 10,378.
Department of Housing figures show there were 3,794 children, down by 27 from March, and 6,584 adults, up by 100.
The figures show there were 1,729 families, a decrease of four, accessing emergency accommodation.
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy has described the increase as "disappointing".
Speaking to the Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government, he said families were exiting emergency accommodation all the time.
He said over 320 families had left emergency accommodation in the first four months of this year.
He said the Government was continuing to increase the stock of social housing and he said the stock of social housing was being ramped up.
He said the Government was facing a very "big challenge".
Mr Murphy said co-living is a small aspect of what needs to be done to fix the housing crisis.
He said less than 1% cent of new builds in the next 12 months will be for co-living.
Mr Murphy said co-living was not for everyone but he said living in a four-bed house share or living in a studio in isolation is not for everyone either.
He also said a review of new regulations governing short-term lettings will take place in the middle of next year.
Under the new rules, which come into effect on 11 July, short-term lettings of houses or apartments which are not a principal private residence will now require planning permission for change of use.
Property owners will have to change the status from residential to a holiday home, should they wish to let the property for more than 90 days of the year.
Mr Murphy said properties in rent pressure zones would most likely not be given planning permission.
He said the objective of this new rule was to bring more properties into the long term housing market.
The minister said discussions were under way with local authorities about how these new laws will be enforced.
He said he was working to get local authorities the extra resources they need and he said the amount of money that would be provided to local authorities will be made available in the future.
Mr Murphy also said a campaign to inform people about the new regulations would come into effect shortly.
Dermot Kavanagh from the Cork Simon Communities has said that despite the best efforts of everyone trying to tackle homelessness, the figures continue to rise.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Kavanagh said there is a need to redouble efforts to ensure more social and affordable housing is available.
He said we must also think about the future, because the homeless figures have been rising for many years.
He said we are not building new social and affordable housing at the necessary scale, and that a strong focus on this type of housing is needed.
Mr Kavanagh added that rent affordability has become a major issue, and the rental system needs an overhaul.
The Minister for Finance said the Government will continue to look at what needs to be done to tackle the homeless crisis.
Paschal Donohoe said one-in-four homes built in Ireland this year will be for social housing, and that €145m will be available to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
He said the fact that 320 families exited homelessness this year is of little comfort to those families who are still in emergency accommodation and added that the funding will ensure that homeless services have the resources to respond to the crisis.
