Protesters threaten to occupy vacant homes as housing crisis deepens

People at risk of homelessness have threatened to occupy vacant boarded-up council homes as the housing crisis deepens.

They issued the warning during a protest on the steps of Cork’s City Hall before Monday’s city council meeting — the second such housing protest at City Hall in recent weeks.

Some of the protesters said they are so desperate they are considering taking down the shuttering and moving into the vacant homes, to avoid being sent to emergency accommodation, including homeless shelters.