Thousands of lives are being devastated by the ongoing homelessness crisis, according to Social Democrats housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan.
“When this government was formed in June 2020, there were 8,699 people in homeless emergency accommodation, 2,653 of them children.
“There are now 14,966 people living in homeless emergency accommodation.
“Shockingly, 4,645 of these are children – a 75 per cent increase since this Government took office.
“This is a monumental failure that has devastating consequences for people’s lives.
“Every child growing up without a home is more likely to be bullied, less likely to do well at school and has higher chance of being hospitalised with preventable diseases.
“We are not a country starved of resources. The outgoing government has had record budget surpluses while simultaneously breaking the homelessness record 24 times.
“This constant rise in homelessness is not inevitable – it is the direct result of failed policies from a government that refused to treat the housing crisis like the emergency that it is.
“There is no acceptable level of homelessness and that is why the Social Democrats have a plan to not just ‘tackle’ long-term homelessness, but to eradicate it entirely.
“No child should grow up without a home and this should not be a radical statement.
“That is why the outcome of today’s general election is so important. If we want to see an end to failed housing policy, we need to ensure that the same government is not re-elected.”
November 29, 2024