Cathal BarryCharity call government to tackle homelessness
Focus Ireland has called on the Government to invest €500 million in Budget 2015 to help deliver over 3,000 new homes to help tackle the growing homeless and housing crisis.
The charity made the call as it presented its pre-budget submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.
According to Focus Ireland, the investment will help to provide much needed homes as well as jobs to help kick-start the economy.
Mike Allen (pictured), Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy, warned the Government that it must take action to urgently deliver more homes – not just more emergency accommodation – if it is to stem the rising flow of families and individuals becoming homeless.
“The Government accepted before the election that the homeless situation is an ‘emergency crisis’ but we have yet to see a crisis response to this terrible situation,” he said.