A Dublin City Council meeting has received a pledge from more than 800 residents to help turn empty buildings into safe homes.

Councillor Daithí Doolan, chair of the housing committee, says he received a petition from housing campaigner Erica Fleming, on behalf of social justice group Uplift.

Erica is homeless and has lead a campaign to highlight the plight of her family.

"The petition is a commitment from over 834 Dublin residents to help Dublin City Council turn vacant buildings in Dublin City into safe homes for homeless people", Councillor Doolan said.

The practical offer includes cleaning, tiling, painting, woodwork, electrical work and gardening.

"This is a very practical sign of solidarity from the good citizens of Dublin", he continued.

Councillor Doolan added: "Dublin faces an unprecedented housing crisis. Numbers forced into emergency accommodation are increasing on a daily basis".

"I want to applaud Uplift for taking the initiative. I fully understand that there may be technical difficulties, I will give this my full attention and I hope to turn this solidarity into action and to turn empties houses into homes".

Recent figures show 83 families became homeless in Dublin in February.

Focus Ireland say this means that 208 families and 363 children have become homeless in the first two months of this year - after a total of 125 families became homeless in January.