The Peter McVerry Trust says it has worked with just under 5,000 people in the last year.

Louth County Council is leading the way in reusing empty buildings for social housing and other local authorities should follow their example, Fr Peter McVerry has urged.

The Peter McVerry Trust publishes its annual report today.

Tonight RTÉ aired Peter McVerry: A View From the Basement, a documentary telling the story of the Jesuit priest's 40-year fight against addiction and homelessness.

The Peter McVerry Trust saw an 88% increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation last year.

Homelessness campaigner Fr. Peter McVerry says it will be very difficult for the State to build the 50,000 new social houses required over the next five years.

A total of 134 families became homeless in Dublin in January, according to Focus Ireland.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny should declare a national emergency on rent and housing, a leading homeless campaigner has said.

Fr Peter McVerry has said the current housing crisis is the responsibility of the Taoiseach.

The number of homeless people helped by the Peter McVerry Trust has risen almost tenfold since the recession began.

Promises to end long-term homelessness have been welcomed as plans to fix up vacant properties and use state-owned buildings to keep families off the streets in the short-term were unveiled.

A generation of Irish children could grow up in emergency accommodation because of a new wave of families becoming homeless due to the housing crisis.

The governor of the Bank of England has castigated a mortgage assistance scheme similar to one being proposed by the Government.

Rent controls and use of vacant housing stock — including refitted hotels — should be considered to ease the looming homelessness crisis, experts have claimed.

Two mothers who joined forces to fight for homeless families like their own say they won’t give up until every family has a secure place to call home.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has defended the Coalition’s record in tackling homelessness after social justice campaigner Peter McVerry predicted that the crisis will "bring this Government down".