The people who work on the frontline of Ireland’s homeless services see what faces homeless people every day of their lives.

They know the varying reasons why people find themselves homeless, the difficulties people face in getting their own home, the initiatives that would improve people’s situations, and what needs to be done by the Government to help the needy.

We asked them about their jobs, homelessness in Ireland, and what needs to change:

• Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre tells us about the struggles facing homeless people this winter.

• “I’m a normal person – I just have problems right now”: We spent an evening at a soup run in Cork.

• Helping people just out of prison to find a home – we talk to a parole officer.

• Volunteering with the homeless can be disturbing but also ‘live-giving’