Over 11,000 young people are currently homeless in NI
Homelessness is on the rise in Northern Ireland, with over 11,000 young people here without a place to call home.
The figures have also been described as 'the tip of the iceberg', with many having to rely on extended family or friends for somewhere to sleep.
The charity MACS, who help young people forced into this situation, held a sleepout in Belfast, to try and raise awareness of the issue.
MACS are tackling the problem locally by providing a home and support to over 44 vulnerable young adults each night.
Over 100 people took part in the challenge, to see if they could survive a night sleeping rough and get a glimpse of what thousands of people here have to go through every day.
Our reporter Sasha Wylie took part in the event.
It follows the news that rough sleepers in the city has trebled in just one year.
NIHE released the figures from their recent street audit which also found that many families are living in extreme housing stress waiting on a phone call to be offered temporary accommodation.
The main issue is the lacking of housing available, and those families in need are being offered hostels out of the city which is causing more distress and added pressure to many families.
Councillor Paul McCusker said:
"Agencies working on the streets have seen a marked increase of street activity with new people presenting and having to spend time on the streets.
"Pressures on hostel provision have been a concern all year with NIHE being aware and the longer people spend on the street they run the risk of becoming entrenched. NIHE have been talking about a chronic homelessness action plan which we have not seen and they need to make it clear on how they are going to deal with the current pressures and ensure those who need temporary accommodation can access it.
"Homeless providers work extremely hard every day providing support for the most vulnerable people in our society.
"I am calling on NIHE to make public their plans on prevention and their chronic homeless action plan as this is critical on dealing with the increase on those presenting homeless every day. We need action now and this can no longer wait."