According to the latest statistics released by the government, 11,542 people are now officially considered homeless in Ireland, a new high.
Official homeless statistics have now reached a record high for five months running, despite a temporary eviction ban that has been in place since November.
The figures were released by the Department of Housing this afternoon.
8,048 adults and 3,494 children were categorised as homeless as of November, an increase of 14 children from the figures for October.
Housing charity Simon Community said it represents an increase of 1.27 percent in one month and a 26.85 percent increase in the same period last year when 9,099 people were recorded as homeless.
Additionally, the report noted that the 1,371 homeless people aged 18 to 24 represent a 4% monthly increase, setting a new record.
Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Communities, said: “The actions taken while the current moratorium is in place will go a long way to defining what can be achieved in homelessness in the coming year.
“In the face of the homelessness crisis, the Government took the important step of bringing in the moratorium on evictions.
“Now we need to see momentum on the provision of secure affordable accommodation to those in homelessness in the coming weeks and throughout 2023.
“Otherwise, we are facing into ongoing extensions and renewals of the eviction ban and that’s not a long-term solution.”
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “Without further urgent action, we will come to the end of the eviction ban in March, with emergency homeless accommodation still full up, and facing into a new wave of spring evictions.
“We can no longer rely on private sector to provide a route out of homelessness, highlighting the importance of new social housing units that will become available over the next few months.”