In the last few days, the Department of Housing in the Twenty Six Counties released news that once again a new record has been set in the never ending spiral of homelessness that plagues this Island.
At least 15,286 people are now living in emergency accommodation there, in addition to the almost 5000 households living in temporary accommodation in the Six County State.
These figures include more than 100 children just over the last month.
The release coincided with the backtracking of Housing minister James Browne on a commitment to end homelessness in the Free State by 2030, which was promised by the Leinster House government in their “Housing for All” policy from 2021.
As is usual for the administration in Dublin, this figure does not include the large amount of people unable to afford the extortionate prices of rent, sleeping on the street or those who are unwilling or unable to access the sub-par properties that pass for emergency accommodation.
With the average rent in Dublin standing at €2,476, one of the highest rates in Europe, it is unsurprising that homelessness has spiralled out of control at such an extreme rate. These figures prove what many across the Island know to be true, and what Socialist-Republicans have long said, that the effects of Capitalism are strangling us all.
The answer to homelessness does not lie within our current system. Reform will not deliver a housing system fit for the people living across this Island. In order to effectively and permanently address the housing crisis in Ireland we need revolutionary change. We must eradicate the vulture funds and end the exploitation of profiteering landlords. Most importantly though, we need a system of public housing centred around peoples need, rather than greed.
So long as we continue chasing our tails and hoping the situation improves, we, and the tens of thousands of homeless people in Ireland, will continue to be forced to live under this unacceptable housing nightmare. It’s Time For A Socialist Republic!
Bígí Linn
NOTE: The issue of homelessness in Ireland and Lasair Dhearg’s proposals to address it are raised in our recently release policy document – Immigration, Capitalism & Imperialism in Ireland (Click Here)
