Coalition urged to tackle rent cost

The Coalition has been urged to address Ireland’s spiraling rent prices as part of any measures to tackle homelessness, after claims the issue has helped force thousands of people into emergency accommodation or onto the streets.

The call was made separately by Focus Ireland, Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, and an ex-Fine Gael TD as the first beds to help solve the country’s rough sleeper crisis by Christmas were opened in the capital’s inner city.

Speaking as the beds at John’s Lane — which will cater for 10 women, 18 men and two couples, and are part of plans to bring in 260 new units to ensure every homeless person in Dublin is housed within two weeks — were opened last night, a Focus Ireland spokesperson welcomed the increased attention being placed on the crisis.

However, he warned that while the most obvious group of homeless people are rough sleepers and that they must be helped immediately, these individuals account for just 400 of the estimated 5,000 people suffering from some form of homelessness across the State, meaning focusing on just this issue is ignoring the wider picture.

“The answer to homelessness is not just more emergency beds. We need to prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place,” he said.

“There are up to 5,000 people who are homeless nationwide. The majority are for economic reasons. This problem can and must be fixed very easily and quickly by increasing the rent supplement so that they match actual rents. If we do this we will stop the flow of 40 to 50 families and children becoming homeless every month.”

The comment was echoed by Dublin mayor Christy Burke and ex-Fine Gael TD and current Reform Alliance member Terence Flanagan, who said the debate on homelessness must also include a genuine examination of the rental market and social housing situation.

Speaking after meeting homeless advocacy groups last Friday, Independent councillor Mr Burke said cabinet must ask landlords to “get rid of requesting excessive rent deposits”.

“We want to tackle homelessness, but we also want to prevent the future eviction of families in private accommodation. We have to try to get rid of landlords requesting excessive rent deposits,” he said.

While such moves were downplayed by minister of state for housing Paudie Coffey last week, in a statement last night Mr Flanagan mirrored the call for action, saying rent increases “are forcing families who cannot pay into a homeless situation”.

Meanwhile, a cabinet sub-committee is understood to have agreed further details for how to address the rough sleeper crisis. The plans —which will outline where exactly the 260 new beds will be, resources, and plans for outside Dublin — will be put to Cabinet today.