There's been a slight increase in the number of people recorded as homeless.
8,082 people were registered as homeless last month -- up by 20.
69% of Ireland's homeless population are based in Dublin.
The Department of Housing says 2,193 children were in emergency accommodation in April, which is 27 more than March.
"Unacceptable"
Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan says: "The Irish Housing system is dysfunctional for everyone at the moment. People are suffering from rocketing rents and a lack of security in the private rented sector, while buying their own home is a distant dream for a growing number in our society.
"There must be urgent but integrated Government action to construct more social housing, affordable rental and affordable homes for home ownership. Setting each sector against the others will not deliver positive outcomes.
"Family homelessness remains at totally unacceptable levels, and we must make sure that the Government’s new ‘Housing for All’ strategy, due to be published this summer, at last genuinely recognises the unique needs of families who are homeless and their children – and includes real measures to address them."
Trend
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities of Ireland, says: "That the trend in falling family homelessness has stalled is profoundly concerning. The persistent and chronic lack of affordable housing is having a huge impact on homelessness. Reports today of possible 8% increases in rents are particularly worrying and will compound the affordability crisis experienced across the country.
"At our latest #SimonTalks webinar yesterday, we were presented with international evidence that when average rents go beyond 32% of average incomes, then homelessness begins to sky-rocket. We have seen the evidence of that here in Ireland up to 2019 and we need to see action to prevent a return to those levels in the coming months and years."
