Homelessness figures up tenfold in recession

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

The charity supported more than 3,500 people last year, compared to 383 people six years ago, according to its annual report published yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Fr McVerry said the future for homelessness and the housing sector “looks grim” and the Government’s promise to eliminate rough sleeping by 2016 will be impossible to keep under current funding.