The housing and homelessness charity Peter McVerry Trust has said it supported over 10,000 people in 2021, an increase of almost 30% on the previous year.

The housing and homelessness charity Peter McVerry Trust has said it supported over 10,000 people in 2021, an increase of almost 30% on the previous year.

The trust’s annual report being published today outlines an increase in the charity’s own housing delivery and tenant support services along with its Covid-19 response in 2021.

Fr Peter McVerry, the founder of the charity, said it was able to give 1,200 people a key to their own home last year.

Peter McVerry Trust is active in 28 out of the 31 local authorities and offers homeless service provisions in five counties: Dublin, Louth, Meath, Kildare and Galway city.

CEO Pat Doyle said 2021 marked ten years of the charity delivering the Housing First model with the Peter McVerry Trust responsible for 61% of the services delivered under the National Housing First Implementation Plan.

The Housing First model provides a home and wraparound supports to homeless people, replacing the old model which required them to overcome their issues before getting housing.

Source: Charity gave 1,200 people keys to own home last year