Peter McVerry calls for rent controls in fight to tackle homelessness

Homeless and social justice advocate Fr Peter McVerry has called for rent controls to prevent the ‘next wave of homelessness.’

The final guest speaker of 2014 for the Kinsale Peace Project, Fr McVerry said people felt powerless as to how to help.

The issue is a political problem, Fr McVerry said but ordinary people can make a difference by recognising the humanity of those living on the streets.

“I think there is a growing compassion for homeless people. But there is a huge sense of powerlessness about dealing with issues like that. What may look like self-centredness is actually a sense of powerlessness,” he said.

Should passers-by give money to the homeless? Fr McVerry said there was no definitive right answer but people prompted to action by compassion for those on the streets should first acknowledge their human dignity.

“There’s something you can do that is more important than giving money. You can say hello. Imagine sitting there watching thousands passing by as if you were invisible, as if you were a non person. Say hello, treat them as humans,” he said.

Rent controls to prevent landlords increasing the rent exorbitantly are required, while the country is facing another wave of repossessions due to mortgage arrears, Fr McVerry said.

“Until the problem of the private rental sector is addressed, we will have a continuous flow into homelessness. There’s no other answer. The minister has done some good things, but he hasn’t done anything about the private rental sector, it’s the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about,” he said.

An additional 40,000 households in mortgage arrears of more than two years are in danger of repossession, he said.

“We have huge problems ahead. We have a flood of homelessness coming down the road,” he said.

Fr McVerry said his 40 years’ work with vulnerable and homeless people had radically changed him and taught him not to judge.