Sir, – In an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, I heard Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre say that in 50 years time people will look back and compare the neglect of homeless people in a similar way that we look back on the scandal of the Magdalene Laundries.
I have to disagree with him. More than 40 years ago along with Séamus Ó’Cinnéide I carried out the first census of homeless people in Dublin for the the Simon Community. The level of homelessness then was nothing compared with today and we certainly found no families or children sleeping out.
It was the expectation then that as the economy improved the problem would be solved or at least seriously ameliorated. As a society, despite the recent recession, we are considerably wealthier than we were in 1971 and we have managed not merely to solve the homeless crisis but we have made it worse. We can blame governments and politicians but we all have to take some responsibility as a community.
I hope Brother Kevin is right and the problem will have been solved but reflecting on the last forty years I am not hopeful. – Yours, etc PETER MOONEY. Cabra, Dublin 7.
Sir, – Apparently there are significant numbers of dwellings boarded up because they do not meet current housing regulations.
Homelessness is a glaring emergency, so there should be political will to find a mechanism to accommodate otherwise homeless people in such unused dwellings, until enough units are upgraded, built or the housing regulations are adapted to meet demand. Regulations are supposed to serve the people, not vice versa. Standards for rented houses that result in people sleeping rough are an obscenity. – Is mise, etc, CLAIRE WHEELER Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Sir – An endangered species, a loggerhead turtle, lost her way in a storm and is nursed back to health for a year, then flown to the Canaries ("Leona the turtle has landed in Las Palmas after flying economy class from Dublin", December 2nd)
A man who lost his way in life’s storm is left to languish and die beside the seat of power of the State. Is humanity endangered? – Yours, etc, FIONNUALA McGEE Rathgar, Dublin 6 Sir, – It has taken the death of a man opposite the gates of our national parliament to focus official attention on the problem of homelessness.
Why is public policy in Ireland always formulated against the backdrop of extreme crisis and outrage rather than as a response to emerging trends and potential future problems?
Homelessness did not receive adequate official attention before John Corrie died. A properly functioning political system would have recognised this during his life. – Yours, etc, MARK COEN Spencer Dock, Dublin 1. A chara, – Is the special forum on homelessness to be convened due to the death of a man or the death of a man on the Dáil’s doorstep? Advocates for people marginalised by our system will have nothing new to say at a forum, special or otherwise.
I’m sure Fr Peter McVerry would take a call from An Taoiseach, as would all other seasoned and committed people who could advise him, should he wish to get sound counsel without pomp or ceremony. I’m sure they would willingly say, yet again, what they have been saying for years.
Austerity augmented the mental and financial vulnerability of thousands. State imposed poverty, in many cases, was a direct cause of homelessness.
As a mark of respect in memory of Mr Corrie, could the Government consider its position, rather than merely deferring the switching on of the Christmas lights in Leinster House? – Is mise, etc, ANNMARIE LEONARD Donabate, Co Dublin.