Lingering threat - Homelessness crisis

MORE and more people are living on the edge of homelessness despite the huge improvement in the economy and the Government’s promise of better days to come.

The Simon Communities of Ireland yesterday revealed figures which it says clearly demonstrate that one in four people are worried about losing their own home.

The figures show that 25% of people are worried about being able to afford their own housing costs while 31% are particularly concerned about increasing rents in the private sector.

We have had a market-driven housing strategy for the past 30 years or more. Successive governments have left it largely to private enterprise to provide social housing.

No major political party has put it as part of its general election manifesto that local authorities should return to the business of building homes for those people who cannot afford to build their own.

That speaks volumes for parties’ so-called commitment to end homelessness.