Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Homelessness not in the heart of the Housing Bill

Published: 10 April, 2009

Homelessness not in the heart of the Housing Bill - Cora Harvey

This week Sinn Fein County Councillor Cora Harvey has hit out at the Government for omitting Homelessness in the Housing Bill.

Cllr Harvey says:

"I welcome the publication of the Housing Miscellaneous provision Bill which was presented to the Dail this week and believe it will help improve the quality of housing services provided by local authorities, it will include as statutory basis for the rental accommodation scheme; a newly incremental purchase scheme: and a provision for local anti-social behaviour strategies. This has to be welcomed; however there are certain omissions that are very regrettable.

The Bill does not deal with the issue of homelessness which is bitterly disappointing but actually not surprising considering the Governments prioritisation of bankers and property developers.

Cllr Harvey continues:

It was only recently that the Government launched their homeless strategy 'The Way Home which outlined their proposals for combating homelessness, and now it is no were to be seen in the Housing Bill. Surely housing and homelessness are interconnected and there needs to be a strong link at a policy level. This again is another example of the Fianna Fail Government paying lip service to the problems that face those most vulnerable. The present Government are great at publishing glossy reports but quite frankly useless at implementing the recommendations.

Concluding Cllr Harvey says:

We in Sinn Fein believe that homelessness is the most acute denial of housing rights in our society. The fact that the Government cannot bring themselves to propose an adequate legislative definition of homelessness in the Bill, let alone keep to their commitments to combat it, is an indictment of an appalling Government who obviously have no regard for those who sleep on the street or find themselves homeless.

Our People deserve better"