Call for empty church or state buildings to be used to tackle homelessness
Summary
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon, argues that vacant church and state buildings should be repurposed to tackle Dublin's homelessness crisis, rather than simply facing increased taxes. She emphasizes that current emergency accommodation models are unsustainable and that a concerted, cross-departmental strategy is needed to address the rising numbers of homeless children. Kenny calls for creative use of urban vacant units and long-term housing solutions to prevent intergenerational homelessness.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Using vacant properties to tackle homelessness
Practicality of converting buildings for housing
Current pressure on services and need for drastic action
Existing pilot projects and the need for concerted effort
Identifying vacant units in urban and private sectors
Emergency accommodation vs. long-term housing solutions
Addressing child homelessness and intergenerational trauma
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