“The opportunity to realise a fair, inclusive and sustained recovery for the people it assists is being eroded by the absence of a new government.”

In addition to children who are homeless, thousands more are living in overcrowded, unsuitable and unsafe sub-standard accommodation.

In 2015 the Peter McVerry Trust completed 19 acquisitions and returned 26 voids back into social housing.

It will take at least 18 months until the new plan begins to deliver the first homes for people in need.