Put Homelessness at the Heart of the Housing Bill

Issued : Monday 2 March, 2009

MakeRoom launches online lobby campaign

MakeRoom, the campaign alliance of Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold, launched an online lobby campaign today in an attempt to secure a number of amendments to the Housing 2008. The aim of the amendments is to 'put homelessness at the heart of the Housing Bill.'

The Housing Bill will start its passage through the Dáil on Thursday March 5. Launched in July 2008 the Bill seeks to amend existing housing legislation from 1966 to 2004 and includes; improvements to housing services; a statutory basis for the Rental Accommodation Scheme; a new incremental purchase scheme; and provisions for local anti social behaviour strategies.. However in its current form the Bill does not sufficiently address issues of homelessness.

Speaking at the launch Bob Jordan said:

"The Housing Bill 2008 is an important piece of legislation aimed at improving services and developing sustainable communities. MakeRoom supports the Bill. However in its current form the Bill does not sufficiently address issues of homelessness Housing and homelessness are interconnected; there needs to be a strong link at both a policy level and at a practice level in terms of responding to needs as they arise with the appropriate supports.

MakeRoom is calling on everyone who wants to help end homelessness to take action and log on to their website www.makeroom.ie/takeaction. There you can sign up to this campaign, send a letter directly to the TD's in your constituency and to the Ministers with direct responsibility Minister John Gormley and Minister of State Michael Finneran asking them to 'put homelessness at the heart of this housing bill'.

MakeRoom supports this Bill. We believe it could make a real difference to the lives of many people who are currently homeless and indeed serve to prevent others becoming homeless in the future but only if a number of gaps which we have identified are addressed.

We believe that with reasonable amendments the Bill could become a truly valuable tool for meeting the government's target of ending long-term homelessness and the need to sleep rough by 2010.

Web based campaigns of this kind are a cost effective and efficient way for people to get in touch with their elected representatives about issues that matter to them. It is particularly timely given the launch of the Taoiseach's new interactive web site and focus on the 'smart economy'." ENDS