Fr.McVerry working in Louth for last year
The opening of a new office by the Fr. Peter McVerry Trust in Drogheda recently came almost a year after the homelessness charity began working in Louth, councillors heard at the April monthly meeting.
Director of Housing, Joe McGuinness told members that the charity have been working in both Dundalk and Drogheda for the last twelve months, after they had secured one of the ‘ tenancy sustainment’ tenders that had been advertised.
Tenancy sustainment is focused more on the care of people who are moving out of homelessness or housing crisis situations.
Mr. McGuinness added that the local authority were ‘very pleased’ with the performance of the Fr. Peter McVerry Trust in the work they had been carrying out for the last year as an NGO.
He added that they bring a level of expertise in dealing with issues of homelessness. He told how Louth County Council had also met with one of the other homelessness charities, which operates in both Newry and Drogheda.
The Director of Services said it had been a positive meeting as the charity are working on the ground with people affected by homelessness .
‘ They are supporting people we are supporting,’ said Mr. McGuinness.
He added that it was hoped that with the group having built up trust with clients, that they might make these people aware of the services provided by Louth County Council.
He pointed out that there was a considerable number of people from outside the county who were accessing the homelessness services.