Fr Peter McVerry: Keeping universal social charge ‘could solve homelessness crisis’ within 5 years

Keeping the universal social charge could eliminate homelessness within five years, a leading campaigner has claimed.

Fr Peter McVerry, who has worked with the homeless in Dublin for more than 30 years, has called on the Government to keep the controversial charge to fund the construction of badly-needed social housing.

His comments come ahead of a rally to be held next week which will call on the Government to declare the housing crisis a national emergency.