A vigil is being held outside Leinster House in memory of the homeless man who died in Dublin’s city centre yesterday.

Jack Watson was one of two homeless people who died in separate incidents yesterday. 

The vigil is being organised by volunteers who knew Mr Watson through soup runs in the Capital.

'Jack' Watson Rest in Peace.
A vigil will be held outside Dáil Éireann tonight at 8pm. #HomeSweetHome pic.twitter.com/qSxBSz2D7f

— HomeSweetHome (@HSHIreland) September 1, 2017

It comes as new figures show 99 families with 214 children became newly homeless in Dublin in July. 

It is the second highest number recorded since 2013, and the highest number since January 2016.

The figures from Focus Ireland mean a record number of 1,178 families with 2,423 children are now homeless in the capital.

The charity’s spokesperson Roughan Mac Namara has warned that serious action is needed form the government:

“We run the risk sometime with social issues that government can look at managing this in the media,” he said.

“Of course we know the government wants to tackle this issue – like everyone – but there are some very tough decisions that could be taken to lessen the number of homeless families every month and they haven’t been taken as yet.”

The Housing Minister has issued a statement saying the level of homelessness is “totally unacceptable.” 

So sad about Jack Watson's passing on Suffolk street. he was an Apollo House resident. Bless him and his family..

— Glen Hansard (@Glen_Hansard) September 1, 2017