A leading homelessness campaigner says the greater use of restorative measures could help prevent people living on the streets.

Fr Peter McVerry is calling for a network of restorative practice centres across the country to offer training and support in communities and families where there are signs of difficulties.

Restorative practice involves training and supporting people with specific skills to be better equipped to talk about and resolve conflict.

Its focus is on restoring relationships that have broken down, rather than punishment and exclusion.

Fr McVerry is launching two reports today on how to implement them in the community.

"Homelessness is often caused by breakdown in community and family relationships, when one party has to leave and has nowhere else to go. Restorative practices can help to equip people with better skills to address these conflicts and avoid the worst outcomes," Fr McVerry said.

He highlighted the need for an emphasis on training and quality.

"We know that restorative practice is far more successful than a punitive approach to overcoming relationship problems."

"It is very important that the people who deliver it are highly trained and resourced. Being an effective trainer and facilitator must be recognised as a highly skilled and complex job," he added.

Chairperson of the Restorative Practices Strategic Forum, Marian Quinn, says these methods could keep people off the streets by helping to resolve problems that often lead to homelessness.

She says while they are longer term measures, they could be applied to the homeless crisis.

Alan Kelly spoke about the document on the way into Cabinet this morning: