Protesters demand action on homeless crisis in Cork

Homeless people and those living in emergency accommodation were among those who protested on the steps of Cork City Hall last night demanding an urgent response to the housing crisis.

And they vowed to stage more protests until the issue is tackled seriously at government and local level.

Sinn Féin also called on the Government to release funding to the city council to allow it build up to 1,300 social homes on six major landbanks owned by the council.

A young mother who was on the council’s housing waiting list for seven years and who is now raising two children, aged six and three, in one room in an emergency shelter on the western outskirts of the city, said she and others being housed in similar settings, feel “invisible”.

“We are living in emergency accommodation. It’s meant to be a bed and breakfast, but it’s more like a homeless shelter,” she said.

“And there are four empty bedrooms there when there are people sleeping on the streets.”

She said she accepted the offer of a council house, but was devastated when the offer was withdrawn just before Christmas.

“We have no security, and I don’t know what the future holds,” she said. “We are completely invisible.”

The group display their banners outside the City Hall yesterday. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Sinead Casey said she has had to move into her parents’ home after her landlord sold the house she was renting. She is now living in one room with her children, aged 11 to two, with the older children sharing a mattress on the floor at night.

“I’ve been waiting for a council house for 10 years and eight months,” she said. “I’ve pretty much given up hope of ever getting a council house.”

Christina Chalmers, who leads the Helping Cork’s Homeless movement, said people need to continue protesting until the authorities respond to the housing crisis.

Meanwhile, residents of the Eden development in Blackrock have called on receivers Grant Thornton to withdraw Notices of Termination hanging over the heads of around 15 tenants.

The receivers had served these notices on some 35 tenants in the development, requesting them to vacate their rented dwellings by March 18. It is understood that 20 units have been vacated.

Several affected tenants have now established a group to represent them, to protect their rights as tenants, and to advocate for tenants in similar situations around the country.

The Tenants Together - Eden group plan to reach out to residents in places such as Tyrellstown to create solidarity and raise awareness about the plight of tenants in such situations.

“This group will support any tenant that wishes to challenge a notice of termination, and will support other tenants facing evictions,” an Eden residents spokesperson said.