ALONE astounded at DCC Head of Housing proposals
Dublin 15th September ALONE have expressed their astonishment at the proposal by Dick Brady, assistant chief executive and head of housing at Dublin City Council, that DCC are considering using prefabs as a solution for housing homeless people in our capital city.
Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said, “I am astounded by such a proposal. Considering that there are a substantial number of boarded up units in Ireland, with a large number of these located in the Dublin City Council area, you would expect that DCC would invest in refurbishing these purpose built housing units. ALONE has previously called for the release of these boarded up units to organisations and charities such as ourselves. Homeless people, whether they are older people or families, deserve suitable living accommodation. They deserve to live with dignity. I am taken aback by the Council’s proposals to house those in need of housing in prefabs.“
He continued, “The Government needs to wake up to the housing crisis. We’re already at disaster point and not enough is being done to care for vulnerable people in our society, particularly older people. These are people who have given their lives to this country and the Government is standing idly by as they are cast out onto the streets.
“The current Government has cut capital spending by two thirds. They need to realise that current incentives for private developers do not work. Housing incentives have to include the provision of social housing if we are to make in-roads into our housing crisis. The Government needs to divide up housing needs and segment housing requirements, catering for older people, families and single people.”
Moynihan revealed that 25% of all calls to ALONE relate to older people’s housing needs. There are currently 4,765 older people in Ireland in need of housing. ALONE reports that older people are increasingly finding themselves in situations where they are homeless or living in unsafe and unsuitable conditions. In the last quarter, ALONE have seen a 50% increase in calls for support with a majority of these relating to housing issues.
ALONE believe that every older person has the right to age safely and securely in their own homes for as long as possible. Studies show that without the security of a home in old age the physical and mental health of older people is severely impacted.
