Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homeless charity, has announced that it will expand its housing provision in Limerick to 100 units in the next 18 months. The charity, which set up its mid-west regional office in Limerick City in December 2016, currently has 50 housing units in Limerick City and County.
The announcement was made at a Business Breakfast attended by over 320 people in the Castletroy Park hotel this morning. The event was moderated by Geraldine Mooney Simmie from the University of Limerick and included speakers Mark Fitzgerald (Chairman, Sherry Fitzgerald), Pat McDonagh (Founder and Managing Director, Supermacs) and Pat Doyle (CEO, Peter McVerry Trust).
The charity announced that it will also further develop its education and employment activation supports, aimed at young people at risk or impacted by homelessness. The business breakfast event was followed by a meeting with representatives from Peter McVerry Trust, Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Institute of Technology and the local Education Training Board.
Speaking at the event, Pat Doyle CEO of Peter McVerry Trust stressed the importance of working in partnership with the broader business community. “Peter McVerry Trust is an optimistic and solution focused organisation concentrating on ways to identify employment pathways, particularly for those exiting homelessness. We hope that by developing new partnerships, delivering new initiatives and opening more doors we will be able to help people integrate into their communities once housed.”
Mr Doyle also reminded people of the importance of bringing vacant properties back into use for social housing and encouraged owners of empty properties in Limerick City and County to get in touch with the charity. “Peter McVerry Trust’s first repair and lease property outside of Dublin was secured in Newcastle West, and we are eager to work with the owners of empty properties and buildings to see if we can repair and lease or buy and renew in order to provide more social housing in Limerick.”
Peter McVerry Trust thanked all those who attended the event, and gave a special word of appreciation to the organising committee, led by local businessman Michael O’Dwyer, and the Castletroy Park Hotel for generously hosting this morning’s event. All funds raised at the event will be reinvested in the charity’s Limerick activities.
