An empty building in Dublin’s Digital Hub is set to offer emergency refuge spots for up to 100 rough sleepers in the capital this winter. The move comes as part of the Dublin Region Homeless ‘Cold Weather Initiative’ which aims to prevent fatalities or serious harm due to sleeping on the streets in very cold weather. The host building, which was previously used as industrial premises, is based on the Digital Hub campus in the Liberties area of the city centre – just off Thomas Street. The emergency accommodation will be available from now until next April – with a focus on single adults and couples sleeping rough on the streets. The announcement was made just days after a couple sleeping rough were attacked on Foley Street. Disturbing footage captured on CCTV cameras in Dublin’s city centre showed a youth attempting to set the homeless couple on fire while they slept. In the shocking footage, the hooded thug can be seen walking through Foley Street, making several attempts to light an object believed to be a firelighter, before throwing it on top of the couple’s sleeping bag. Recent figures published on Homeless Dublin shows an increase in the number of individuals who have accessed homeless accommodation in the city. In the second quarter of this year 3095 people have availed of homeless services.