Kenny expresses anger at homeless levels among lone parent families

People Before Profit TD for Dublin Mid-West Gino Kenny has expressed “deep concern and anger” at what he calls the “alarming” increase in homelessness across Ireland.

Responding to the latest homeless figures that show yet another record number of people availing of homeless services in Ireland, Kenny said “despite promises and commitments from the government, the current housing crisis continues to escalate, leaving countless families and individuals without a stable and secure place to call home.

“The government’s policies have proven inadequate in addressing the root causes of this crisis, and urgent action is needed to ensure that all citizens have access to safe and affordable housing.”

Kenny pointed to findings from the latest figures that showed that 147 out of 200 homeless families in Ireland are lone parent families.

“This statistic highlights the disproportionately high impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable lone parent households. It is evident that the government’s approach to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity has not adequately considered the unique challenges faced by lone parent families.

“This crisis underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive and compassionate strategy that tackles both housing affordability and poverty, particularly within this vulnerable demographic,” he said.

“The fact that such a significant majority of families experiencing homelessness are lone parents is a clear indication of the failure of current policies to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.”

Calling the situation “a heart-wrenching reality,” Kenny said that the Fanna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green Party government must take immediate and decisive action to rectify this situation.

“Instead, they are now proposing tax cuts for landlords in the Budget and doing nothing for tenants,” he remarked.

Kenny said that his party are calling on government to recognise the “urgency” of the housing crisis and to “swiftly implement measures that prioritise the well-being and dignity of all citizens.”

He called on the parties to commit to increasing the availability of social and affordable housing, implementing rent controls to curb “skyrocketing” rental costs, and investing in support services for vulnerable individuals and families.