National Homeless and Housing Coalition rally at the Dail today

Ahead of this evening’s Winter of Housing Discontent protest, which takes place at the Dail at 5.30, the National Homeless and Housing Coalition has announced the following speakers:

Fr. Peter McVerry

Louisa Santoro, CEO, Mendicity Institution

Bernard Joyce, Director, Irish Traveller Movement

Paddy Diver, MICA Campaign

Beth O’Reilly, VP for Campaigns, Union of Students in Ireland

Richard Boyd Barrett TD, People Before Profit

Eoin O’Broin TD, Sinn Féin

Cian O’Callaghan TD, Social Democrats

Finbar Grealy, Dublin Council of Trade Unions

Representative from CATU, The Tenants Union

In a statement released ahead of today’s rally, the National Homeless and Housing Coalition said:

“The housing crisis affects people from all sections of society. The crisis, which has existed for years, has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“Homeless individuals and families are spending longer in emergency accommodation.

“More people are sleeping rough due to poor standards of emergency accommodation, which is evident in urban areas across the country. It is impossible to rent somewhere to live at an affordable cost as rents ever increase.

“Tenants continue to have little to no protection or security of tenure in the private sector. It is impossible for the majority to buy somewhere to live. Accessing housing continues to be an issue for students. Traveller Accommodation continues to be at a crisis point with little or no visible progress for the community in its provision.

“Elderly pensioners are finding themselves homeless. People wait years, sometimes more than a decade, on local authority housing lists. Overcrowding, substandard accommodation in both the private and public housing sector is commonplace. Hundreds of thousands of derelict buildings scatter the landscape.

“Meanwhile, the recently published Housing for All policy simply continues in the same vein: to rely on the private sector, vulture and cuckoo funds and corporate landlords for delivery.

“Tax breaks and incentive schemes simply push up prices and standards will remain low.

“Students, Travellers and other minority groups will not have their specific accommodation needs addressed.

“Tenants will not be protected.

“Dereliction will not be dealt with.

“Social housing will remain in scant supply and affordability continues to be linked to market value rather than ability to pay.

“People’s lives are being put on hold because they cannot access secure, affordable, quality housing.

“An entire generation has been affected by consistent poor government policy by this government and every piece of policy drafted and legislation passed that favours the market, landlords and funds is another kick in the teeth to those caught at the coal face of this crisis – a crisis made by government policy and made worse by it.

“The huge protests of people affected by the Mica scandal recently are an indication of the frustration and distress that the housing crisis is causing for everyone across Irish society.

“The National Homeless and Housing Coalition are calling on people to gather at the Dáil on the first day back after the summer recess to mark their cards – a winter of housing discontent and protest is coming, stop putting the needs of funds and investors first – invest in the people, build public housing on public land, deliver on Traveller specific accommodation, lower rents, give us security, access and affordability. We want homes, not investments.”