The incoming Government "needs to be ambitious" in order to tackle the housing crisis, a homelessness charity has said.

A record number of 15,199 people were homeless in November - the largest number since records began.

Of that figure, 4,658 were children.

On Breakfast Briefing, Threshold's National Advocacy Manager Ann Marie O'Reilly said the charity has a number of "priority actions" they want included in the new programme for Government.

Housing policy

"We want to build enough homes, first and foremost, and I know that is something that is often discussed," she said.

"55,000 homes a year is what's been identified as the need and while that is very ambitious, we do need to be ambitious.

"If we need 55,000, we need to be aiming for 55,000, nothing less."

Ms O'Reilly said the new Government must work towards the housing commission's recommendation of delivering 20% of housing as social and cost rental.

On top of these priorities, Threshold are calling on the incoming Government to introduce homeless prevention measures.

"We need to make sure that those in homelessness are provided with emergency accommodation and with supports - but we also need to make sure that further people aren’t entering homelessness," she said.

A tent along the banks of the Liffey, Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie

Ms O'Reilly also called for the Government to "end rough sleeping" and to include a strategy for the private rental sector in their plan to address homelessness.

"As you know, many people enter homelessness from the private rental sector," she said.

Threshold is also calling for an "improvement in mental health services for people experiencing homelessness."

Ms O'Reilly said the record homelessness figures are "quite shocking".

"It's now over 15,000 and that's almost a 50% increase since the 2020 election," she said.

Threshold want a commitment from the Government to end long-term homelessness by 2030.

"That’s a commitment that was made by the Government when they signed the Lisbon Declaration in the early days of the previous Government – that’s what we need to see happen," she said.

Ms O'Reilly urged the Government to act now to prevent further people from experiencing the "trauma of homelessness".

Feature image shows a tent on Dawson Street, Leah Farrell, RollingNews.ie