All-Island Housing Demo

'CATU is an all-island union and is calling on both the Dáil and Stormont to immediately implement a number of measures to protect people across the island from homelessness, including the introduction and re-instatement of the eviction ban; a commitment to ensure no child is living in emergency accommodation by 2026; and a full and proper resourcing of the tenant in situ scheme. The union is also demanding an end to the inhumane and exploitative direct provision system, and urgent resourcing and provision of culturally appropriate Traveller accommodation to end the discrimination which sees Travellers overrepresented in the homeless figures. The union also demands a rapid expansion of community mental health and addiction supports to address the complex harms experienced by many people forced into the homeless system.'

Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Raise the Roof campaign have endorsed the march and will be supporting along with most opposition parties. They built some awareness by holding a rally last week at the Dáil where Paul Murphy spoke hours after returning from Egypt.

Long-fingering or avoiding the housing issue has been one of the biggest gifts to the far-right in Ireland. Saturday's serious large housing demonstration needs to show there is a serious deliberate housing movement ready to take on the landlords in the Dáil and to get behind Gerry Carroll's People's Housing Bill in Stormont.

This is the first national housing protest in well over a year. Being quiet has only made things worse. Let's make some noise tomorrow.