Focus Ireland says the homeless crisis is getting worse - with newborn babies among those living in emergency accomodation.
The charity's annual report shows it helped a record 15 and a half thousand people last year
The charity also helped more than 500 families move out of emergency accommodation and find a permanent place to stay.
The charity's chief executive Pat Dennigan says homelessness has a hugely detrimental effect on thousands of kids.
"Trying to maintain links with friends, trying to maintain links with families, the whole trauma of living in a hotel room for a long period of time," he said.
He says that can be for up to two years in some cases.
Focus Ireland handed over the keys to 176 homes for homeless people last year.
But it says the government will need to provide thousands more to deal with the current crisis.
