Government willingness needed on social housing
FR Peter McVerry said the government needs to show ‘greater willingness’ to address the issue of homelessness in Ireland.
Speaking at a special lecture hosted by the Social Sciences Department in IT Tralee at its North Campus on Wednesday, the Newry native addressed various strategies on homelessness, stating that there are currently 12,000 hectares of publicly owned land in Ireland that could accommodate upwards of 40,000 social houses.
He spoke about the prospect of establishing a Housing Executive, similar to the north of Ireland, with a centralised body dealing specifically with housing that would take responsibility away from local authorities – many of whom have contrasting ways of sourcing houses.
He said the idea of relying solely on the private sector to build social housing has failed and that a ‘central coordination’ policy for building social houses is now needed.
“He gave a brilliant lecture which was very well attended considering the inclement weather,” said Patrick McGarty, Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Sciences.
“Fr McVerry made some very interesting points, including how the government should introduce laws to prevent evictions by vulture funds and banks. He said anti- social behaviour and not paying rent should be the only circumstances in which someone should be asked to vacate a home. We also had many of our practice placement organisations in attendance, who thoroughly enjoyed Fr McVerry’s lecture,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fr McVerry also addressed a special alumni event with graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Social Care degree at IT Tralee from 2002 - many of whom work in social care roles all over the world.
Fr McVerry entered the Jesuit Order in 1962 and was ordained in 1975. Early signs of his commitment to people in need came in 1979 when he opened a hostel for homeless children.
He has since devoted himself to helping the homeless and raising issues of social inequality, drugs, juvenile justice, the gardaí, the prisons and education. He is also the founder of ‘ The Arrupe Society’, now called The Peter McVerry Trust.