We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE HOUSING CHARITY Peter McVerry Trust has hit its strategic housing target 12 months ahead of schedule.
Under its strategic plan announced in 2016, the charity said it wanted to double its housing units to 450 housing units by the end of 2020.
Today, the Peter McVerry Trust said it has met that target already and has plans to add a minimum 100 more units in 2020.
The housing has been delivered across the country, with a number in Dublin, Limerick and Louth.
CEO Pat Doyle said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to more than double our housing stock in 4 years and that we are now one year ahead of our plans. However, this isn’t about targets it’s really about delivering more homes for people in need as quickly as we can.
We are committed to the Housing First model and to ensuring that people can realise their right to housing. The only way we can deliver on both these fronts is to ensure we play our part in housing the most vulnerable, particularly single people, for whom housing is in shortest supply.
Housing First
Ireland first signalled a shift away from the traditional “staircase” model of addressing homelessness and towards a housing first approach in the 2011 Programme for Government.
The staircase model would involve a homeless person going through a number of steps (for example getting clean from drugs, completing courses, etc) before they were allowed transition to a house.
Housing First flipped this model on its head with a secure, safe, permanent home with support being the primary goal; and recovery, therapy or whatever else is needed coming after that.
Finland adopted a housing first programme in 2008 and has all but eliminated long-term homelessness there.
The housing first programme in Dublin is run by workers from the Peter McVerry trust and is financed by the Dublin Regional Housing Executive (DRHE).
After the pilot initiative in Dublin, it expanded to other areas of the country.
Last November, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) issued a tender worth €16.4 million for Housing First.
In June, Kildare County Council issued a tender worth an estimated €702,000 for Housing First services over a three-year period.
And, in July, Westmeath County Council issued a three-year tender for the provision of Housing First services in the region.
Homelessness
The charity’s further commitment comes as the housing and homelessness crisis remains a huge issue, with the latest figures showing that over 10,500 people in Ireland are homeless.
Those figures were published on the same day that a no confidence motion was tabled against Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, which was narrowly defeated by 56 to 53 votes.
The Residential Tenancies Board’s (RTB) latest quarterly index published yesterday showed an 8.2% increase in the average cost of rent compared to the same time last year.
In the report, the RTB said a “significant increase in the number of properties available for both sale and rent will be required in order to temper the rapid growth in rent prices”.
It said that despite the number of housing completions increasing recently, the level of supply remains “significantly below the level” of structural demand.
Peter McVerry Trust CEO Doyle said that while the news they’d met their targets was good news for those who’ve been housed, it would be necessary to “redouble” their efforts next year.
“We are putting more resources than ever into our housing development programme, not just in Dublin but right across the country from Dundalk to Tralee and Bray to Galway,” he said.
We have a plan to add at a minimum of 100 further units in 2020 and are working on a range of other opportunities that will see more empty buildings brought back to use, more town centre retail spaces converted to homes, more derelict buildings regenerated, and more new homes built for people who need them.
Doyle acknowledged the assistance from the Department of Housing, the Housing Agency and local authorities for funding most of the charity’s housing development work. He also thanked donors who’d assisted the charity.
The latest efforts from the Peter McVerry Trust have seen a planning application lodged for 12 apartments on Shaw Street in Dublin. The charity also has active projects in Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6 and Dublin 8.
With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
He’ll be praying he’ll get Judge Martin Nolan.
There was a petition that went around a few years ago to get rid of him, nothing came of it. The internet outrage towards him is nothing new.
Seen that a year or so ago and when I tried to sign it apparently it was thrown out. Makes me angry really that we pay him to be so incompetent. A real pity.
Lots of people seem to blame the government for just about everything that happens…what about personal responsibility and decency in people, is there a minister for that??
The government has partial blame for their inaction against the incompetence of judges, the lack of prison spaces that allows a revolving door system and not putting in place minimum sentences. This 18 yr old will no doubt have already racked up a ridiculous number of convictions.
Violent crime is allowed if your solicitor can mention to the judge you’ve hard a hard life or a hard year or even a hard few hours. Then it’s ok to stab shoot or just abuse someone.
Judge Nolan the biggest hearted man in the country
At least the suspect can be named this time because he’s legally an adult
Life in jail no excuses
If he’s charged he’ll be named.
Dublin is a lovely place unfortunately these kind of things happen to often. In general Dublin is still safe.
Dublin is an absolute kip,don’t delude yourself
Dublin is not the worst of them, not by a long shot!
bagdad is worse marginally
From Dublin don’t live there now but very sad about how unsafe and violent its become bloody gov’t needs to up its game. #love Dublin
It’s not like the tabloid media would have you believe and there are gangs roaming the streets. The 2 killings this weekend are one that was involved in criminality and the other an argument at a traveller halting site. Sick of the view that Dublin is unsafe, it is if you are up to no good but it’s rare for a member of the general public to be caught up in the violence
bullshit
It’s not unsafe at all Glenoir. It’s a city with nearly 1.5m inhabitants. It has the same problems as every other city but by and large it is very safe but if you want trouble you will find trouble. Last night’s incident involved a row between travellers. The other high profile murders of late have involved serious criminals. Traveller murders are rare so unless you are a serious criminal caught up in a gang feud you should have little to worry about.
What is happening in Dublin. It’s getting out of control!
It’s absolutely crazy. Dublin is getting a really bad reputation. The judges need to come down hard on these people. The 18 year old (if found guilty of murder) should get life in prison.
Am…..that’s the only sentence he can get if found guilty of murder.
Ah Pat, work with me here. A lifetime behind bars. These lads should not see the light of day again. He’ll probably get 15 years and out in 10 for ‘good behaviour’. He should be locked up for the rest of his days, simple as
Getting murder would be hard more likely it would be man slaughter and sure the poor lad has a hard life and jail would very hard for him so 5 years with 3 suspended.
It’s his culchur, don’t blame him!
Wtf is wrong with these people. Ireland is a country with opportunity. I understand if this happens in 3rd world countries.
Dublin City is at a life-or-death crossroads.
Please enlighten us….1.2 Million people in Dublin and 1 is stabbed!! Definitive life or death you idiot!
It’s because none of ye clowns ever leave Dublin in yere tracksuit wearing lifetime. Ye think all cities of 1.2 million in Europe are full of howerya junkies too.
Classy keyboard warrior post, “Dave”.
Dave i was in kildare once Arr ye slack jaw yokel.
I mean outside of Ireland you fool, Lay off the glue for a while.
Back to bed with you Dave, sleep off that hangover :-)
Dave we are not mind readers up in the big smoke..if you mean outside Ireland say outside Ireland Yarp .
Ah Dave ser didn’t most of them have their foreign trip away last Saturday
Must take a fertiliser sack full of Taaaythos and a bucket of Club Lemon to cure your Buckfast and barbiturate hangovers…..another savage shlap of Shudocrem couldn’t go amiss ‘aythur’!! ;~}
isin’t it about time for your daily injection of metadone through your big toe?
Still beats oral injections of tetra delta and golden maverick from some fat sweaty farmers arse with scour and high yields!! Back to the tall ships and sunny splendour of the capital here…..back to tall sh¡theaps and shlurry-puppies for yee!!
Stabbed to death? In English it’s called murder!
Two with no respect for the law or society shot and stabbed by people with no respect for the law or society.
That’s it. Sure haven’t they the two weeks booked for Benalmadena anyway, tis great and ya get the full irish for 3 euro 50.
What has become so sad in this country, is we hardly blink anymore when someone dies violently, gun crime is becoming too common.
# as has knife crime
God knows what the rest of the world must think of Dublin with nearly a shooting or a killing almost daily
Strange how you point that out, but fail to blame the ‘settled’ community for the growing number of murders this year.
have your say