Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal Michael Finneran T.D. officially opened Focus Ireland's new housing development in Dungarvan on Tuesday, July 29 last to help the charity provide 21 homes in Waterford in partnership with DOE, the Waterford City and Dungarvan Town Councils.

The housing and homeless charity announced at the event it has now provided 92 homes in Waterford under its five-year strategy which aims to deliver an overall total of 800 homes around Ireland between 2005-2010. Up to 170 of these homes will be provided in the South East Region.

Focus Ireland's work to meet housing needs around the country has progressed steadily since the launch of its strategy in 2005 and the charity now provides homes for nearly 550 households in Waterford, Limerick, Cork, Sligo and Dublin.

Meanwhile, Focus Ireland is also working hard to support a further 1210 households around the country to secure and sustain a home through its Tenancy Support and Settlement Services by 2010.

The Focus Ireland housing development at Dungarvan consists of 21 new one, two and three bedroom units that will provide homes for local families and single people. The development was undertaken in full collaboration with Waterford County Council, Dungarvan Town Council along with the support of the Dept. of Environment.

The innovative housing project provides high quality, low-cost, supported accommodation and directly addressing specific housing needs identified in the Waterford area by Focus Ireland in partnership with the local councils.

Speaking at the event Minister Michael Finneran T.D. said: "Through their hard work and dedication Focus Ireland has worked in close partnership with my own department and local City and County Councils to develop models of service and housing provision that are tailored to effectively prevent and tackle homelessness by meeting the different needs of the people they work with day-to-day."