The party said the crisis has spiralled because of years of underinvestment in social housing by Fine Gael/Labour and previous Fianna Fáil led governments.
Spokesperson on Housing, Dessie Ellis TD, said: "Homeless people are being denied shelter; families are under increasing strain to keep a roof over their heads. And it is getting steadily worse. Almost 5,000 people state-wide are living in emergency accommodation; some 2,298 people living in emergency accommodation in Dublin, including 1,275 children.
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"It has come to this point because of years of underinvestment in social housing by Fine Gael/Labour and previous Fianna Fáil led governments. We also have to factor in years of bad planning, bad governance, property speculation and an over-reliance on the private sector to deliver our social housing needs.
"Rent supplement levels are totally inadequate – since this government came to power the spend has reduced by almost half. The Mortgage Interest Supplement has been cut from €77,246,000 to €11,930,000. Not only have supports been slashed - this government has made it easier for the banks to evict people in mortgage arrears resulting in more homelessness and housing overcrowding."
(CD/LM)
