A Catholic bishop has described the homeless crisis as “a scandal” which must “be addressed with urgency by any incoming Government”.
Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian said that having more than 10,000 people homeless “in a society of relative economic prosperity is a scandal which cannot become a societal norm”.
He said homes are increasingly becoming regarded as financial assets rather than essential needs. “This way of thinking needs to be reversed to put the person, the family and the local community at the centre of housing policies.”
Family homelessness and the increasing number of children in temporary accommodation “must be addressed as the distress, worry and trauma which these families and children endure is immense and will have lasting impact on their opportunities in life,” said Dr McGuckian, whose diocese covers most of Donegal.
The ongoing difficulty young people faced in renting or buying their own home “could have serious implications for society”, he warned.
Source: IRISH TIMES
