The homeless and housing charity Peter McVerry Trust is opening a new regional office in Limerick.

This marks the beginning of a programme of social housing provision in the city.

The charity says it is working in partnership with Limerick City and County Council to identify and respond to housing needs.

It plans to have 14 housing units ready by March 2017.

The social housing programme has been funded in part by the Capital Assistance Scheme, and private donations to the Peter McVerry Trust.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said: "We are very pleased to announce that Peter McVerry Trust is bringing its experience as a specialist provider of social housing to Limerick.

"We already provide housing services in Dublin, Kildare and Laois and are supporting hundreds of people in their own homes."

"In Limerick, we are opening five units of housing before Christmas with a further nine to follow in the first quarter of 2017.

"Beyond that we are actively identifying housing projects and further acquisitions to provide a housing led response to homelessness."

Launching the service Kieran O'Hanlon, Mayor of the city and county of Limerick, said: "I welcome the announcement that Peter McVerry Trust is bringing its services to Limerick.

"The charity will complement the comprehensive range of supports that the council already provides to those in emergency accommodation through the Limerick Homeless Action Team.

"The issue of homelessness is a very complex one that needs a wide variety of different supports. Limerick City and County Council is working on a range of measures to provide social and affordable housing in Limerick," he added.

The charity worked with 4,705 individuals in 2015 across its services - which include homelessness prevention, housing and drug treatment services.

It also provided 149,000 meals across its services during 2015, supported 1,461 through its homelessness prevention services and helped 171 people exit homelessness in that year.