Focus Ireland has released some startling figures which have shown the number of homeless families in the capital has increased to a staggering 1,296. 

The organisation painted a grim picture as it took part in Facebook's #10YearChallenge with the figure a 420% increase in the last decade. 

“We used the number of families homeless in Dublin as it is the only number from 10 years ago which is directly comparable to the figure now," said Focus Ireland Advocacy Manager Roughan MacNamara, "It really shows how successive governments have failed to get to grips with this issue when you take a longer term view.

"There would have been a few hundred children homeless in 2008 now there are nearly 4,000 homeless nationally.

“There is a risk people can become desensitised to the depth of this crisis and we must always remember behind each single number is a child, a man or a woman who is homeless and who is suffering because of this.

"The impact of not having a home hits people’s mental and physical health and is especially damaging to children as it stunts their development, education and well being,” he added. 

The organisation has called for immediate action from the Government for more social housing, affordable rental and home ownership while the charity stressed that delivering more social housing will help reduce demand for private rented accommodation and ease rents.