Call for referendum to enshrine right to housing in Constitution

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Addressing members of Sligo County Council at the local authority’s monthly meeting on Monday last, Cllr Declan Bree put forward a motion calling on the government to hold a referendum “without delay” to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution.

Cllr Declan Bree outlined some of the statistics that have helped create a situation where, “People are finding it next to impossible to find secure housing in the rental sector.”

Cllr Bree added, “President Michael D. Higgins was right when he said Ireland’s housing policy is a “disaster” and has been the country’s biggest failure.

“Just one in five wage earners can now afford the average-priced home. House prices have risen more than 130% in the last decade. In many areas, young families need 10 years just to save the deposit. Home ownership rates have now collapsed below the EU average.

“With rents up more than 80% since 2010 and evictions spiking since the ban was lifted, people are finding it next to impossible to find secure housing in the rental sector. “Homelessness has risen fourfold over the past decade. Even business groups have warned that housing problems are harming jobs and investment.

“Up to half a million young adults are stuck in the family home; young people are being forced to emigrate because of housing costs; students whose education is interrupted and harmed; older renters are facing acute housing insecurity in retirement; and the delivery of essential public services are being impaired by the lack of affordable housing for key workers.”

Explaining why he feels the need for the right to housing should be enshrined in the constitution, Cllr Bree said, “A home or shelter is one of the basic necessities for sustaining life. It should not be a commodity to use as a weapon against ordinary people or for extracting subsidies from the state, to swell the massive profits of big business.

“Government housing policy is the cause of the housing crisis. Homelessness, ever growing waiting-lists and extortionate private rent levels are the symptoms. Universally accessible public housing is the cure, the solution, to permanently end the housing crisis.” Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.