New Government but homeless still forgotten about
DJ Colm blasts politicians for ‘lying’ about crisis
Radio Nova’s Brent Pope, Lucy Kennedy, Ruth Scott and Colm Hayes
Garreth Kelly
RADIO presenter Colm Hayes has accused the Government of lying about the homeless crisis.
The Nova breakfast host and programme director said the issue was being used as a “political football”.
Six years on from the first Homeless Radiothon, raising funds for Focus Ireland, the Dubliner added: “It’s a travesty, it’s something that’s brought home to us every year. This is getting worse.
“On the radiothon we follow a girl called Selina. She fell between the cracks of society and what we tend to do is do nothing. She’s become a political football when there’s a General Election and people need votes.
“But after the new Government goes in, the homeless are forgotten about. We have a civic duty to lean in and help these people out of the cracks.”
The 57-year-old feels it does not add up when the Establishment says it can solve the crisis. He added: “They have a finite amount of money, they can’t magic it up when it doesn’t exist.
“They’re lying, they should be held accountable within 100 days.”
Single mum-of-two Selina Hogan said last year’s Nova Radiothon helped her to escape a life of homelessness.
The 34-year-old added: “In 2017 Focus Ireland asked me if I’d like to get involved with the radiothon. It helped shine a light on my journey. I wanted to show how a positive attitude and vibes are so important to get through stuff.
“It is going to be OK, it’s a battle but you get your forever home in the end. To me it felt like I’d won the Euromillions.”
■ More details on the radiothon are available at www.homelessradiothon.ie