Nama empty homes ‘would halve homelessness’

Homelessness could be almost halved immediately if the Government kept its promise to hand over empty homes under the control of the State’s toxic assets agency.

Focus Ireland, one of the country’s leading homeless organisations, said it could also “virtually eliminate” the stark problem of entire families without a home if the will was there among the Cabinet.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan vowed to give 2,000 homes under the control of the Nama over to social housing 18 months ago.