Families in emergency accommodation after days of unrest in Ballymena

On Thursday night, a family with three young children was moved from a house at Mount Street in Coleraine targeted in a racially motivated arson attack, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

NIHE chief executive Grainia Long said she expects the number of people seeking help to rise, adding that demand for emergency and temporary accommodation is extremely high.

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, Ms Long described the last week as "extraordinary", saying there is an "unprecedented number of families locally who feel it is unsafe to stay in their home".

"Demand is extremely high, and it has been one of those weeks where everyone has had to move very quickly to respond."

"We do expect the numbers to increase as households make decisions about what is safe for them."

However, she said not everyone wants temporary accommodation.

Ms Long has said that "a number of households have made their own arrangements".

While demand for temporary housing is on the rise, Ms Long said the available supply of appropriate housing is an issue.

"We don't have any contingency or additional accommodation," she said.

"We are working to make sure we have the right numbers of temporary accommodation."

She added that NIHE staff "have been out on the ground, supporting communities, working within them and ensuring their safety", as well as "working with older people who are scared and asking questions about their safety".

Ms Long told BBC News NI that she is "worried about households that we may lose contact with, those who may be vulnerable to exploitation, particularly those with children".

There has been disorder in Northern Ireland for four nights in a row, with a lower level seen on Thursday than earlier in the week.

Commenting on the trouble in Portadown, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: "Officers deployed a variety of public order tactics to restore order to the town as quickly as possible.

"Twenty-two officers were injured [on Thursday] and I am so grateful to them for their bravery and selfless dedication in protecting the community of Portadown from this criminality.

"We saw calm in Ballymena and I hope the powerful words of the family who asked for calm during this really difficult time were heard and continue to be heard over the coming days."

In east Belfast, police said bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses on Avoniel Road in a racially-motivated attack.

A small fire was lit at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey and reports of anti-immigration "hate graffiti" are being investigating in Newtownards.

During the first three days of violence, 41 officers were injured and 15 people been arrested.

On Thursday evening, about 100 people attended an anti-racism protest in west Belfast.

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the PSNI chief constable said families hid in attics and wardrobes during violent disorder in Ballymena this week.

Jon Boutcher described the violence as "racist", adding: "The people who are threatening families who are different to them - that is racism."

BBC News NI spoke to residents in some of the streets affected in Ballymena on Thursday.

One man said: "There's one section of the community and we don't want them and I don't care, you can call me a racist if you want.

"There's been brothels in round here, there's been trafficking.

"We were forgot about, nobody looked near us. The horse has bolted."

Another said: "It's an area here that over the last number of years we believe has been genuinely neglected by the powers that be.

"We would be critical of a lot of the statutory agencies."

He added: "There's obviously then some real issues around prostitution, human trafficking.

"As a community we're trying to work our way through this and it's far from easy."

Another resident said: "It's been very terrifying, especially for the kids.

"When you see people holding sticks and batons, destroying things and all that, we're going to be very afraid, especially my kids.

"Since these incidents, every day the police knock on the door and ask 'are you guys OK, are you safe?'"

His 11-year-old son said: "Sometimes I feel scared.

"But now that we're all together I feel safe and everywhere we go everyone is asking are we OK."

Meanwhile, senior health professionals in Northern Ireland have issued a joint statement saying the "appalling and violent scenes of recent days are nothing short of shameful".

"We know there will be many of our international colleagues within the committed and dedicated health and social care and independent sector workforce who will be distressed by what has unfolded," the statement adds.

"We know that, less than a year after similar scenes on our streets last summer, you are once again left feeling frightened and anxious.

"But please know this: You are welcome, you are deeply valued, and you have our full support. We are the better for your presence here."