‘Homelessness is a political problem,’ Fr Peter McVerry

Following his talk at St Mary’s Church of Ireland in Nenagh on Monday, the Tipperary Star spoke with Fr Peter McVerry about what needs to be done now to ease the homelessness crisis.

From modular housing to constitutional change, Fr McVerry believes there are things the authorities can institute now to ease the problem.

But the most immediate concern should be preventing people from becoming homeless.

“The bigger problem is how do we prevent more people becoming homeless? Because unless you prevent people coming into homelessness trying to house people who are homeless is like emptying the bath water with the taps full on,” said Fr McVerry.

Fr McVerry said most people are becoming homeless because they are being evicted from the private rental market. Those people do not have the funds to find alternative housing, and so are becoming homeless.

“So I am all in favour of renewing the ban on evictions and extending that ban for two or three years with exemptions for landlords who find themselves in difficulties,” said Fr McVerry.

In the short term, Fr McVerry would like to see modular housing being built.

He said it may not be a long-term solution, but it is a very quick and affordable way of housing people while social houses are being constructed. Social housing is of course, the long-term solution, but Fr McVerry is concerned about the pace of delivery.

“The government has promised 9,000 social units a year, but where are they going to go? I mean why not put 7,000 modular units where the 9,000 are supposed to be?” said Fr McVerry.

Secondly, Fr McVerry would like to see vacant buildings being brought back to use. He said while the Government has committed to doing that, again, delivery is inconsistent.

So there is a discrepancy between promise and action, and in the meantime people are losing their homes.

Finally, Fr McVerry would like to see the right to housing enshrined in the constitution. In his talk, Fr McVerry described the impact of the Child Care Act on child homelessness. So, laws can make a difference.

“If I could ask for one thing it would be to continue the ban on evictions and extend it. And get the modular units up and running and the empty buildings. They are things that can be done in a hurry,” said Fr McVerry.

DOWN THE ROAD

But the problem does not end with homelessness.

“We have huge problems coming down the road. There are going to be a lot of people defaulting on their mortgages because of the interest rate rising.

“There are going to be a lot of elderly people and people with disabilities being evicted from their housing.

“We have already heard a story about a woman who was due to leave her rented home on the day she was in hospital having her baby.

“There’s another lady with a therapy dog that is being evicted. Nobody is going to take in her and her dog,” said Fr McVerry.

And changing the public perception of homelessness is essential.

He said that while his talk had focused on his work with people struggling with drug addiction, the vast majority of the homeless people do not.

He said he knows of a landlady who is homeless and many students. A person only need lose their job or become ill and not have the ability to pay a mortgage or rent.

“As long as the public thinks most homeless people have a drug or alcohol problem, many of them will say it’s their own fault.

Why should we be too sympathetic? So I think we need to change that perception of homeless people. Because almost anyone is at risk,” said Fr McVerry.

POLITICS

Politics is not just for politicians.

According to Fr McVerry, if people work together in collective action, they can make a difference.

“When I’m talking to students in schools, I say you know, if you send an email to the Minister for Housing saying you want the right to housing in the constitution, your email won’t make any difference. Can you get your whole class to send an email? Can you organise your whole school to send an email?

“Homelessness is a political problem and has to be solved politically, and that’s what I want to get across to students. “You have to be political,” concluded Fr McVerry.