Personsleptinchicken hutinMornington

THE housing crisis in the East Meath area was again highlighted at a recent area council meeting with 580 on the list, with 50 presentations of homelessness up to September of this year.

Councillors heard that in one case, someone was living in a chicken hut in Mornington for six weeks and then slept in a burned out car at the beach.

MEATH CC say that there were 50 homeless presentations to them from January to September 2017. 13 were still in emergency accommodation as of October.

They say that family homelessness has become a trend but they work with private landlords to provide homes for them.

Cllr Sharon Keogan said that a residential care unit is needed for the region, with the council replying that they had a link with the Drogheda Homeless Aid service

However, Cllr Paddy Meade said Meath CC did play a part in the homeless shelter in Drogheda but ‘ there were a lot of long term people there, taking up beds. Some are there five or 10 years and if that was tackled it would open spaces for other people,’ he claimed.