Call on local TDs to support bill to "prevent more children being made homeless"

Local Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley is appealing to TDs in the constituency to support emergency action to stem the tide of rising homelessness.

Speaking after Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin announced that his bill to implement an immediate and temporary ban on no-fault evictions would be advanced in the Dáil this week, Brian Stanley said:

“This week Sinn Féin will bring forward a bill to change the law so that ordinary workers, families and children cannot be evicted at the whim of a landlord when they have done nothing wrong. This is the norm in other states and is needed to stop a further rise in homelessness this Christmas.

The homelessness crisis has never been worse. This Christmas, more than 4000 children will wake up on Christmas morning in a hub, hostel or B&B.

“55 of these children are in the Midlands region. There are now more families and children living in emergency accommodation since records began. This is completely unacceptable.

“Here in Laois/Offaly I have had an increasing number of constituents been served with a Notice of Termination of their tenancies.

Typical of these are John & Marie. Their notice expired in October and they have been desperately searching for private rented accommodation (PRA) without success. These are two very good tenants. They are on Laois County Council housing waiting list and both are working. The landlord is putting increasing pressure on them to vacate their apartment as he wants to sell it. They are likely facing homelessness in the coming days’’.

“These harrowing scenarios are replicated right across the Midlands and the reason for this is because the Government is not delivering enough social and affordable housing.

"Under this government, we have record high house prices, record rent increases and record levels of homelessness.

"The Minister for Housing, Darragh O'Brien must grasp the seriousness of the housing crisis and take emergency action to stem the rising tide of families, children and single people going into emergency accommodation this Christmas.

“The Sinn Féin bill to reintroduce the Government's ban on no-fault evictions would, if passed, take immediate effect and last until the end of March. This is a necessary protection for households who rent their homes and who pay their rent on time and cause no bother to their landlords or neighbours.

"It would also give the government the breathing space required to increase and accelerate the building of social and affordable homes for those who are currently homeless, and in need of a permanent roof over their heads.

"If TDs want to see fewer children homeless this Christmas, then they should support Sinn Féin's bill.”