Raise the roof on the 26th
by Róisín McKane
 

The Fórsa-backed Raise the Roof housing campaign has announced plans to hold a national demonstration calling for an end to the housing and homeless crisis, which will take place at 1pm in Dublin on Saturday, 26th November.

 

The rally, called in response to the acute housing crisis facing the country, will gather at The Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and Fórsa is urging members to attend.

 

The campaign brings together a wide range of unions and other civil society bodies to demand radical new action on the housing crisis, which is now one of the ‘longest and most severe’ in Ireland’s history, according to campaigners.

 

Fórsa’s director of campaigning Kevin Donoghue said that this is now “a national emergency” and the time for Government action has long since passed.

 

“There are 10,568 people in emergency accommodation in this country, and rents have increased by almost 100% in the last ten years. We know that average rents consume over half the average wage, well above the 30% level defined as ‘affordable’, and 60,000 renters are in their 50s and will struggle with high rents in retirement,” he explained.

 

A legal right to housing and a State-led housing programme with a mandate to deliver affordable homes for all are just some of the solutions set out in the Raise the Roof manifesto

 

“Each of these figures tells a story of a housing crisis that is deepening and impacting on every pocket of society. Addressing these problems requires radical solutions like the ones laid out by the Raise the Roof,” said. Kevin.

 

The group also announced it would be holding the meetings with a view to building broad public support for solutions to the crisis and alternative policies on housing. Meetings will take place on:

  • Monday November 21st, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, 7.30pm
  • Wednesday November 23rd, Woodquay Venue, Dublin City Centre, 6pm
  • Thursday November 24th, River Valley, Swords, 7.30pm

More information on the campaign can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and those looking to get involved should contact campaigns director Kevin Donoghue HERE.

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

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