The Simon Communities of Ireland welcome today’s measures by Minister Eoghan Murphy to introduce a temporary eviction ban and freeze rents for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Wayne Stanley, National Spokesperson for the Simon Communities:
“We welcome the Government’s temporary legislation banning evictions and enacting a rent freeze during the COVID-19 crisis. The vista of a new wave of people and families entering homelessness in the midst of a global pandemic would have been a cruelty too far. However, being homeless in this emergency is the reality for thousands of people across the country. As the parties sit down to develop a programme for government they must ensure they have the policies in place to ensure that we never find ourselves in this situation again.
Once we are through this, we need more social and public housing and a rebalance of the Constitution to ensure a clear pathway for legislation on housing, particular in times such as we are in now, of exceptional need.”
Ends.
For media queries and interview requests
Emma Allen
Communications
Tel: 085 806 5141
E: communications@simoncommunity.com
About Simon Communities
The Simon Communities support over 16,700 men, women and children. We have 50 years of experience providing homeless, housing and treatment services to people facing the trauma and stress of homelessness. We are a network of independent Communities based in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East, responding to local needs and supported by a National Office in the areas of policy, research, communications and best practice. We share common values and ethos in tackling homelessness and, informed by our grassroots services, we campaign for more effective policies and legislation regionally, nationally and at European level. Whatever the issue, Simon’s door is always open for as long as we are needed. For more information, please visit www.simon.ie.
Services include:
- Homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement.
- Street outreach, emergency accommodation and harm reduction.
- Housing with support and Housing First services.
- Homeless specific health and wellbeing services (counselling; addiction treatment and recovery; and mental health supports).
- Personal development, education, training and employment services.
- Food banks, drop-in centres and soup runs.
