The number of homeless has smashed the 10,000 barrier for the first time, with 10,264 in emergency accommodation last month.
There are now 6,480 adults forced to live in hotels and B&Bs, up 117 on January, while the number of children is up 160 to 3,784.
The shameful new record figure represents an overall increase of 277 people since January.
Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy described the latest figures as “hugely disappointing” but Inner City Helping Homeless described them as “shocking”.
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The charity’s chief executive Anthony Flynn said: “Any increase in people entering homeless is unacceptable, but we now have a repetitive narrative that government are not adequately responding to.
“Month on month we are seeing more and more families and children becoming homeless. One hundred and 60 children becoming homeless in a single month is a result of complete systemic failure on the government and Minister Murphy’s part.
“We now have 10,264 homeless people for the first since records have been kept. A full re-evaluation of homeless services is required, government policy has and is failing and it is now time for the Minister to consider his position and the Taoiseach to intervene in this crisis.”
The latest figures come as the UN accused the Government of allowing vulture funds buy up thousands of family homes to rent them out a sky-high rents and giving them tax breaks for doing so.
But Minister Murphy said tried to defend the Government’s policies pointing to the number of houses being built.
He said: “The increase in homelessness in February is hugely disappointing. Our plans to fix the supply of both social and private housing are working and this is borne out by the most recent build figures.
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The latest RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) report also shows rent falling at the end of 2018. And yet still we see more people entering emergency accommodation.”
Labour’s housing spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said the figures show Fine Gael’s policies have failed.
She said: “These figures are just another reminder of how unfit for purpose Rebuilding Ireland has become.
“The Government can push through emergency laws on fishing in a week but can’t take the time to tackle this national crisis.
“The last two months have shown that the Government is not on top of this, and the problem is getting worse.
