In a new one-hour television documentary ‘Peter McVerry: A view from the Basement’, which will air on RTÉ One tonight, the Jesuit priest tells the Government, “We ignore the drug problem at our peril.”

Last year was the busiest ever for the Peter McVerry Trust which saw a 40% increase in the number of people supported in housing.

Peter McVerry Trust calls for compulsory purchase of vacant buildings in private ownership.

74 families became newly homeless in Dublin in April while almost quarter of a million houses remain empty across the country.

Peter McVerry Trust calls for “decisive action” by the Government to stem the flow of people into homelessness.

Bru Aimsir in Dublin, which has been full every night since it opened in December, catering for 100 people, is to close this week.

“Youthreach transmits fundamentally important values that the student has a value as a person regardless of past achievements.”

An 82% increase in the number of children attending the Capuchin Day Centre for meals since 2011 Brother Kevin Crowley warns.

€41,400, the largest amount in the Dublin appeal’s 15 year history, collected in the days running up to Christmas.

In 2015 the Peter McVerry Trust completed 19 acquisitions and returned 26 voids back into social housing.

Some of the graduates were unemployed while others worked for charities like Crosscare, Peter McVerry Trust, Age Action Ireland & the Simon Community.

This is the fifteenth year that the appeal has been held and in that time over €500,000 has been raised for local good causes.

‘The Christmas Presence’ should be "compulsory reading for everyone before we rush off to do our Christmas shopping” - Fr Peter McVerry.

Package does not address the level of rent supplement and the actions of banks when they repossess the properties of buy-to-let landlords.

“While families are flooding into homelessness, Ministers are bickering, arguing with one another and disagreeing with one another" - Fr McVerry.

"There is nothing to slow down the shocking number of families becoming homeless."

Inadequate response to crisis makes McVerry Trust question "whether this Government are committed to helping people in homelessness".

“Young people are searching, faith is very much relevant to them."

21,000 additional residential units required each year over the next three years to meet demand.

Fr Peter McVerry warning over "tsunami of homelessness".

Lack of social housing and rental property resulting in hopelessness among homeless: Fr McVerry

Dublin City Council moves to increase funding to frontline homeless services.