“We believe if the legislation had been passed as many as twenty of the families who became homeless in Dublin every month would still have a home” – Sr Stan.

This must be seen as a “line in the sand” for the government. “They must see this cannot continue,” says Focus Ireland in week where homeless families were directed to Garda stations for shelter.

671 families with 1,257 children have become homeless in Dublin in the first eight months of 2016.

Bru Aimsir in Dublin, which has been full every night since it opened in December, catering for 100 people, is to close this week.

In some cases, families and individuals entitled to support have spent time sleeping rough due to a lack of information: Crosscare.