HOUSING: I simply do not see the sense urgency needed to protect our most vulnerable

In the autumn of 2019, I was completing my degree in Psychology and Sociology.

I took a class called Sociology of the Welfare State and my lecturer spoke often about the homelessness crisis, and especially about families in emergency accommodation.

He predicted there would be a whole generation of children who grow up traumatised, and there would be a corresponding mental health crisis in the years to come. 2019 was a long time ago; a whole pandemic has passed, and war has broken out, as our representatives never tire of reminding us.

Lots have changed but not the homelessness crisis.

Like at all.

According to the monthly homelessness report for October 2019, 1,733 families were in emergency accommodation.

That included 3,862 dependents. In November of that same year, 1,685 families were recorded as homeless totalling 3,752 dependents.

Last week according to the same reporting system, 1,599 families were homeless, with a total of 3,373 children.

These figures don’t include homelessness among single adults, those sofa surfing or moving back in with family. All of which is an ever-growing issues.

Our Government representatives have short memories.

But I am sure most people remember the stories of families crammed into one room in B&Bs and eating their dinners off cardboard boxes outside long before the pandemic.

The truth is the Government simply failed to ensure families in Ireland have the most basic of needs. It wasn’t a worldwide crisis. It was simply not caring enough to act.

Lifting the eviction ban this week was unadulterated cruelty. It has left thousands nationwide fearful of their future.

I covered the Special Sitting of Tipperary County Council last week. It was a very important meeting, and it does appear as though the housing section has the resources they need to deal with at least what they can predict.

But there is too much focus on long-term plans, and not on immediate mitigation measures.

There is a lot of talk of two years from now.

Ten years ago, building houses might have been the answer. But the damage has gone far beyond that. And if the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have taught us anything is that things can change real quick.

Our representatives love the word ideology. They love to tell us about the great work being done in their departments and local authorities.

They forget that they are not scholars engaged in a great philosophical debate.

And I don’t doubt that Tipperary County Council is exceeding every target and doing their best.

But this isn’t an annual programme review. This is an emergency.

I simply do not see the sense of urgency from the Government needed to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. Nor do I see any plan to address the health and social crises coming down the line.

This isn’t just about units. It’s about lives.