The Minister for Housing says NAMA will release 450 homes next year to help people in long term homelessness.

Focus Ireland has criticised the agency for failing to deliver on its promise to use vacant units to help those with nowhere to live.

The charity says 5,000 people are currently homeless in Ireland and many of them are families living in emergency accommodation, such as shelters and B&Bs for 10 years or more.

And it says the number of families losing their homes every month in Dublin has doubled from 8 to 16.

The charity is holding its annual conference today and says it has seen an 18% increase in people seeking support this year. There has also been a 43% jump in the number of people contacting Focus Ireland in an attempt avoid becoming homeless.

The charity says its vital that affordable secure housing is made available so that the rise in homelessness is stemmed.

Minister Jan O'Sullivan says there will be quicker delivery of NAMA units from now on because the process has been simplified.

The CEO of Focus Ireland Joyce Loughnan says the number of families facing homelessness is shocking.

NAMA has hit back at the criticisms. In a statement this afternoon it says its offered Focus Ireland over 100 properties but it says the charity declined on the basis that they did not meet its needs.

And the agency says its been the most proactive of any financial institution in making housing units available for local authorities and approved housing bodies.