HOMELESS CAMPAIGNER FATHER Peter McVerry has today said he believes some emergency hostel provision is so disgraceful he has been telling homeless people to steer clear of it.

Speaking at Reuna Ireland’s think-in, McVerry said there are people who are recovering from drug addiction who are entering hostels full of active addicts.

“I have been personally advising some homeless people to sleep rough,” he said.

He also sharply criticised the government and Minister Alan Kelly’s strategy, claiming they are “looking for a cheap way out of the housing crisis”.

But there is no cheap exit.

He warned that the government’s social housing policy is “deeply flawed” and that expenditure of €2 billion a year is required for the next decade if we are to resolve the social housing list.