Sir, – John Fitzgerald (November 5th) quoted figures for homelessness in Paris and in England. Presumably this was done not to justify the level of Irish homelessness but to show that it is not just the ordinary people of Ireland who are being made miserable. Cold comfort.
He roots the problem partly in rising rents. He is partly right.
The other part, the big part, is the dearth of public housing. The root of this is ideological. It is the poisonous ideology of neo-liberalism, which commodifies everything. Housing in Ireland has become almost exclusively a commodity, and if you cannot afford to purchase the commodity, then it’s tough luck, Paddy. This Government tried to commodify water but this monstrous idea is stopped in its tracks because the ordinary people of Ireland took to the streets.
Only when the same is done in the name of public housing will homelessness and overcrowding become history.
Regarding your contributor’s assertion that “families have decided to “go homeless” in order to jump to the top of the housing queue”, I would like to address myself to this but unfortunately I am pressed for time. I have to go wash my hair. – Yours, etc,
Cllr NICKY COULES,
People Before
Profit Alliance,
South Dublin
County Council,
County Hall,
Tallaght, Dublin 24.