Tenant in Situ funding cut will leave families homeless
Labour’s general election candidate in Kildare North, Councillor Angela Feeney, has criticised the decision to withdraw funding from the Tenant in Situ scheme, warning that it will lead to increased homelessness for families across the country.
Councillor Feeney said:
“It beggars belief that, during a housing crisis of this magnitude, this Government would pull the plug on a scheme proven to keep people in their homes. Families are already on the brink, and this move will push even more into homelessness.
“The Tenant in Situ scheme has been a safety net, and cutting its funding is a direct attack on families. Labour has been clear: we called for an expansion of this scheme in our housing manifesto ahead of the general election. Increasing it by 300 homes to reach 1,800 is a part of our housing policy.
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have overseen a catastrophic rise in homelessness during their tenure. The numbers don’t lie. Child homelessness has risen by over 76% since the Housing for All plan was launched—a damning indictment of this Government’s failure to deliver on housing.”
“Local authorities urgently need more resources to combat homelessness. Labour’s plan would have provided councils with the autonomy and funding necessary to act quickly on vacant properties and keep families off the streets. Instead, the Government continues to basically sit on its hands while the crisis deepens.
“With a general election on the horizon, the Irish people must ask themselves if this trajectory is acceptable. Families are being failed daily by a Government that has no credible plan to address this crisis.”