373. Factchecking the Taoiseach’s Homelessness Claims

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack n this Reboot Republic, Rory alongside Adam Boyle, Solicitor with the Mercy Law Centre, factcheck Taoiseach Simon Harris' claims that "homelessness numbers are heavily impacted by the fact we are seeing many people seek protection in our country, seek asylum in our country". We highlight how asylum seekers are not included in the homeless numbers the Taoiseach references, how the majority of people presenting as homeless are doing so due to evictions from the private rental sector or household breakdown (which is often hidden homelessness). We also discuss the policy origins of homelessness -from the shift from direct social housing building to HAP, discrimination in the private rental sector, and failure of Government to provide renter protections. We also discuss the problems with current definitions of homelessness, the way in which presentations to homelessness are not capturing the true figures, and the danger of narratives blaming asylum seekers and immigration. See mercylaw.ie for more Rory's Dublin Marathon for Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/112598735