Number of homeless reaches record high at 17,885

A record number of 17,885 people were in emergency accommodation last month, according to the Department of Housing.

The number of adults in emergency accommodation now stands at 12,055, with 5,830 children in emergency accommodation.

This compares to 17,527 people in July, and 5,659 children availing of emergency accommodation.

Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne called the figures a "record high" and "unacceptable".