The Dublin-based charity the Peter McVerry Trust is opening two new housing units in Limerick today as part of a €2.5m investment over the next 12 months.

It is the first time in the charity’s 37-year history that the trust is reaching out and responding to the needs of the homeless outside the capital.

The trust’s chief executive Pat Doyle said it brought to five the number of keys handed over in Limerick this week.

“That’s five people no longer called homeless, but rather a tenant of the Peter McVerry Trust,” he said.

“We intend to do that to 10 more in the first quarter of next year. And we’re hoping by this time next year, we’ll have 30 units in Limerick and will have taken 30 people out of homelessness for good.”