Over 60 homeless people slept outside the Dáil last night to highlight what they see as Government indifference on the issue.
The demonstration was organised by Street Seen, an Irish anti-poverty magazine which is sold by homeless people.
All money raised by the publication is used to fund training courses and projects aimed at empowering the homeless community. Street Seeneditor Jon Glackin said three among people living on the streets had died recently and the Government needed to increase funding for support services.
"These people died because they were homeless. To us, three was too many. There wasn't much media coverage so we basically said that we had to do something in Dublin to raise the profile of the issue," he said.
Ken Molloy, homeless for 22 years, told ireland.comhe had no choice but to sleep on the streets and that he was protesting because he didn't want to see any more deaths.
"The only thing that I'd like to say to Bertie or Mary Harney is that they treat us like flies they can squash," he said.
"We're not lepers. Why can't they come out and have a chat with us? Let them shake our hands and let us know what they're going to do about this instead of dragging their feet".
Campaigners plan to propose an emergency motion at a Dublin City Council meeting next Monday calling on the Government to refrain from selling the former UCD Veterinary College in Ballsbridge, Dublin, a sale which is expected to make over €100 million for the State, and instead allocate it to the city council to alleviate the city's housing crisis.