Focus Ireland say families who have become homeless in Dublin are living in shocking conditions, often packed into tiny hotel rooms.

The charity is warning that the Government's refusal to raise rent supplement payments will force more families into homelessness.

It comes as new figures from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive show families living in emergency accommodation in Dublin have more than doubled in the past year.

In late October, there were 1,101 people in families - 680 children and their 421 parents - in all types of emergency accommodation - the highest level since the housing crisis began.

Mike Allen - Director of Advocacy with Focus Ireland - says placing families in hotel rooms is an unacceptable short term solution: