It was humbling to visit Simon Armagh to offer our support and to speak and pray with the residents and staff, says Archbishop Martin.

The “hidden homeless” are people who often don’t have the option to declare themselves officially homeless and to put themselves on the local authority emergency accommodation list.

The one million euro will be used to help housing projects in Dublin, Limerick and Cork – but as homelessness crisis worsens, this is but a drop in the ocean.

“Ireland has an international commitment to spend 0.7 percent of national income on helping the world’s poorest people, yet this budget will bring us further from this commitment” – Trócaire.

Some of the graduates were unemployed while others worked for charities like Crosscare, Peter McVerry Trust, Age Action Ireland & the Simon Community.

Government Social Housing Strategy welcomed but 20% more people sleeping rough in November alone.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of live nativity scene.