There are approximately 6,000 homeless people living in Ireland today, around 4,000 of whom live in the Dublin area. Of these, 20% are under the age of 25. Founded in 1985, the Peter McVerry Trust is committed to reducing the effects of homelessness, drug misuse and social disadvantage through its provision of housing and support services for young homeless people.

The Trust provides its services through a continuum of care model, which includes referral and assessment; education, training and personal development; transitional accommodation and residential community detox and drug aftercare.

Peter McVerry Trust’s long term objectives include increasing the number of tenancy sustainment units, which will enable clients to experience supported independent living while gaining the skills to eventually manage their own tenancy. The Trust also plans to open a residential stabilisation facility for those overcoming drug addiction.

How The Ireland Funds helped

To date, The Ireland Funds has contributed over €12,000 ($15,980) to the Peter McVerry Trust.

The Impact of your investment

At present, our Outreach and Tenancy Sustainment service, Education and Training centre and Community Detox facility are funded entirely through voluntary donations. Below are descriptions of the Trust’s funding requirements for various services. Tenancy Sustainment €1,000 ($1,330) This would provide personal starter kits (bed linen, towels, kitchen equipment etc) for 5 clients or one year of support for someone who has recently moved in to their own accommodation from a tenancy sustainment worker. Education, Training and Development €2,500 ($3,330) Computer equipment would allow participants access to information on jobs and accommodation and to computer skills training. Outreach €5,000 ($6,660) This would provide clothing and food for 50 homeless young people for one year. Residential Community Detox €10,500 ($13,985) This would help a young person to attend a 6-week detox programme, which includes a horticultural programme and group therapy. Other requirements €25,000 ($33,300) Because the residential service is in a rural area, a minibus is needed to bring clients to the detox facility, take them to rehab on completing the course, collect medication and group activities.

Fr.Peter McVerry

Peter McVerry began his priestly ministry in the inner city of Dublin in 1974. At this time he came into contact with young people who were sleeping on the streets because of the inadequacy of their home situation.

In 1979 he opened a hostel for homeless boys, aged 12-16, from the inner city. He is still a member of the Board of Management of this hostel. It is now fully funded by the Health Board. It was as a result of his experiences with boys leaving this hostel at 16 or 17 years of age and having nowhere to go, except back to the streets, that Peter McVerry set about providing services and accommodation for this older age group.

Since early 1990s, the Health Boards have been given statutory responsibility for the under 18 age group which means that services have improved and, while still far from perfect, most homeless young people in this age group are reasonably well catered for. However a shortage of appropriate accommodation and services for the over 18s, who have no legal right to any accommodation, has created a crisis for this age group, who if they are not helped and supported at an early stage, become much more difficult to help. It is the 18-25 age group that is now the primary focus of Peter’s time and attention.

Fr. Peter McVerry provides 2 hostels for the under 18 age group, one hostel for the over 18 age group, one drug detox house and two aftercare houses. Each house or hostel caters for 6 or 7 people at a time. He also provides three apartments to those seeking to return to a normal lifestyle.

"It is our policy to provide a warm, caring, safe and supportive environment for the young people living there. We try to provide stability for young people so that they can attempt to deal in a positive way with emotional or behavioural problems, which they might experience. We try to encourage and help the young people living there to develop or maintain positive relationships with their family, where appropriate. We attempt to equip the boys for independent living during their stay. We support and help them to find employment, training courses or schooling, as appropriate to each one's needs. Ultimately, our objective is to help young people to take control of their own lives and not remain as victims of forces, internal or external, beyond their control. "