A moral obligation for each of us - Confronting homelessness

The sad, lonely death, in a Dublin doorway, of John Corrie, the 43 year-old homeless man who died yards from our parliament, is symbolic of many things wrong in our world, but for anyone to suggest they are shocked by such an inevitable tragedy just adds a shameful and offensive layer of hypocrisy to the charge sheet already faced by this society.

There have been warnings for months if not years about the looming homelessness crisis, especially from the relentless and admirable Fr Peter McVerry, but a solution to a scandal that simply should not be an issue in a society as rich as this has yet to be found much less delivered. And, like it or not, we are all to blame.

Official stasis — despite valiant efforts by on-the-ground social workers and volunteers — facilitated by a public that does not regard social justice, deprivation and poverty, access to educational supports or decent housing as important as opposing a relatively moderate and entirely justified water charge is a large part of the problem.

Had just a fraction of the energy and passion — public or political — invested in opposing water charges been used to confront the housing crisis it would have been resolved years ago. Had a fraction of the Irish Water set up costs been offered to resolve the homelessness crisis it is hard to imagine that anyone would want for a roof over their heads.

This reality, this alternative use of resources, points to our skewed, increasingly selfish set of values that allows government after government sit on their hands until the latest John Corrie or Susie Long provokes 48 hours, or maybe 72 hours in a slow news week, of ultimately pointless, empty public outrage.

When he addressed the European Parliament last week Pope Francis admonished Europe’s political representatives — and through them each of us — because of how the great humane values that were the founding principles of the European Union had been pushed aside by the dominance of market values. These all-powerful forces play a significant role in our escalating housing crisis, and not just for unfortunate, troubled individuals like John Corrie, and it is well past the time to strike a better balance between market and human needs.

Echoing the words of Pope Francis by deeds, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin yesterday made a diocesan property available for emergency homeless accommodation in the centre of Dublin. Though practical this gesture is also a symbolic challenge to Government— and all of us.

There is hardly an urban parish without an empty building owned by one arm of the State or another. Surely it is possible to convert at least some of these, in less than two months say, to serviceable accommodation until the houses promised by Environment Minister Alan Kelly become available in two or more years? And if not why not? It is estimated we will spend more than €500m on food or drink this Christmas. Set against that statistic resolving the homelessness crisis quickly is not a question of social or political policy. It is one of simple civic morality and moral obligation.