Ross Mullen | Senior Staff Writer
Why do we have to wait until a homeless man dies in the shadow of Leinster House before homelessness is properly tackled in this country? Homelessness in Ireland has reached epidemic levels, with a record number of people sleeping rough in Dublin recorded in the last count. The homeless cannot simply be forgotten. They are not invisible, even though it may be easy for us to think so or trick ourselves to believe it is so. The fact it took the discovery of a body on the steps of Leinster House to make the politicians in this country finally look at homelessness as a serious issue only highlights the dire need for intervention and a real plan to house those sleeping rough.
The homeless are not invisible, if anything it’s a very visible problem that it is impossible for one to be unaware of.
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Homelessness is not a new problem in Ireland, nor is it one without a solution. While the current exposure in the media must be welcomed in order to finally stimulate movement towards effective measures to tackle the problem, it is lamentable that the catalyst for this focus was the unfortunate death of a man. Politicians now taking interest in homelessness have been absent in the past. They have been happy to ignore the hundreds of people who consider street corners and shop fronts as their home. They have been content to turn their backs on fellow humans. They have cowardly shielded their eyes from those in need. The uproar surrounding John Corrie’s death would have been much more muted had it not occurred mere feet away from the Dáil. It has shoved a problem that has always been evident into the political domain, but it should never have taken this long nor needed such a tragic event to become an important issue.
Pat Doyle, the CEO of the Fr. Peter McVerry Trust, a Dublin-based charity fighting homelessness, said, “This tragic death is a realisation of our worst fears. It is an unfortunate reminder that the chance of dying on the street is a risk that over 160 people sleeping rough face on a nightly basis in Dublin.” There are no acceptable reasons, nor can we justify it on any ground that people in today’s society should find themselves forced to fend for themselves on the streets of the city. As a society we cannot stand by as the most vulnerable die on the same streets we walk. Charities such as the Fr. Peter McVerry Trust and Focus Ireland provide tremendous work to alleviate the problem of homelessness, but it is disconcerting that in a modern world people must rely on charity rather than their state.
The fact is as true as it is unpleasant: these people have been failed by the state, which has not provided the support to duly ensure they have the ability and means to live independently. Emergency accommodation is obviously welcome but cannot serve as a long-term solution to such a complex issue. Furthermore, even if every homeless person on Dublin opted to take an emergency bed, there are simply not enough in existence to cater for them all. The government’s long term Social Housing Strategy, which aims to clear the current social housing list by 2020, will have a lasting impact if it is successful in attaining its ambitious target, but sadly 6 years is too long a time to wait for many of these people on the streets.
The fact it took the discovery of a body on the steps of Leinster House to make the politicians in this country finally look at homelessness as a serious issue only highlights the dire need for intervention and a real plan to house those sleeping rough.
The stigma surrounding those who live on the streets is a significant barrier which must also be broken down and gotten rid off. It has been disappointing and upsetting to read some of the comments posted under recent articles on homelessness. Those who find themselves in this predicament cannot and should not be generalised as drunks and drug addicts who are simply suffering the results of their own choices. It is both ignorant and deplorable to have such a narrow-minded and condemning view of fellow people. There are a plethora of reasons and causes for someone finding themselves without a home, not all of which are directly connected to drugs or alcohol. But if this is the reason as to why someone you know is homeless, knowing that by advising them to visit a place similar to a Bend rehab facility (if you live in this area of Oregon) could help them out more than you’ll know. This could be the step in the right direction when it comes to getting their life back on track.
While it is equally naive to overlook the problem of addiction among the homeless, the presence of drug and alcohol addiction should not rid a human being of the basic right to shelter. Should a wrong choice decide the fate of someone? Can we, as a society, effectively abandon someone to live on the streets because they have made poor choices previously? I find it distressing to think we could, yet that appears to be the viewpoint of some. A criminal is given the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society, so why should a homeless person be refused it? Luckily, there are places similar to this substance abuse disorder treatment center that try their best to help those who have issues with drugs and alcohol.
The homeless are not invisible, if anything it’s a very visible problem that it is impossible for one to be unaware of. Nonetheless, we choose to ignore, avoid and dismiss the problem. As Miriam Lord noted in the Irish Times, the scene of the death seemed more shocking than the nature of it. As it comes up to Christmas and the temperatures drop, spare a thought for those less fortunate. John Corrie was not the first homeless man to die on our streets, and if something doesn’t change soon, he certainly won’t be the last either.
The Belvedere Sleepout occurs on the 22nd-24th of December where current and past pupils will sleep on the streets for two days and three nights in order to raise awareness and funds for homelessness. The event will take place at the GPO at O‘Connell Street and at College Green and collectors will be around the city raising much needed funds for Focus Ireland, the Fr. Peter McVerry Trust and Home Again as they seek to tackle homelessness. If you‘re around town over this Christmas period please spare a thought for those without a roof over their head and spare some change or check out the website where you can also donate online at http://www.sleepoutdublin.ie or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleepout-Past-Pupils/123215437792680?fref=ts.
Photo by Ulises Bedia
