Homelessness situation is an absolute scandal – O’Brien - Senator supports Simon Community campaign -

​Fianna Fáil candidate for Dublin Fingal Senator Darragh O’Brien today pledged his support for the Simon Community’s campaign which calls on the government to immediately address the housing and homelessness crisis.

“The current crisis is an absolute scandal. Tackling homelessness is a priority for me and for Fianna Fáil. We take it very seriously. I wholeheartedly support the Simon Community’s election manifesto and I think it is a pity that there are no government representatives here today.”

The Simon Community election manifesto calls for immediate action on four fronts – prevention and intervention to prevent homelessness; rapid rehousing so people are not trapped in emergency accommodation; access to affordable housing for all and adequate support for people once they are in housing.
Senator O’Brien, who is the party’s Dublin spokesperson added:  “There is an urgent need to prioritise the homelessness crisis.
 
“While there has been a four-fold increase in the number of people on the social housing list in Fingal, Fine Gael/Labour built fewer than  2 houses in five years in the area. 
 
"In Fingal alone there are 9,000 households on the social housing list, amounting to around 25,000 people.  
 
"Despite all Minister Kelly's posturing, not a single social home was built in Fingal in 2015 and rents are at historic highs. 
 
“Tackling the homelessness and housing crisis needs to be at the top of the agenda for all political parties,” urged Senator O’Brien.