First published 3.20pm

FATHER PETER MCVERRY has called for more action to be taken to combat Dublin’s homeless crisis.

This follows the news yesterday that a woman and her three children were made to spend the night in an industrial unit because the credit card used by Dublin City Council’s homeless service was maxed out.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke programme, the campaigner said that he had come across a similar situation a number of weeks ago, but had not brought it forward as he had no way of verifying the information.

He also said that he had been informed of 12 families currently living in cars in Dublin.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has said that after following up operationally there is no verification of these 12 families.

• Woman and three children sleep in industrial unit because council’s credit card was maxed out

The priest pointed to difficulties in coordination between different State bodies hindering the creation of accommodation. He referred to the inability to rejuvenate O’Devaney Gardens as an example of this.

Homelessness in Dublin has been steadily increasing since last year. In May the number of homeless families in emergency accommodation was at 490, a figure that rose to 531 by June.

In a statement, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive has said that the credit card belonging to Dublin City Council’s Central Placement Service had reached its maximum limit due to high demand.

“The limit has been renewed and extended and we continually work to accommodate families who are experiencing homelessness,” it said.

Read: Homelessness has increased since the action plan after Jonathan Corrie’s death

Also: ‘Anti-homeless’ spikes turned into bed and mini-library