Dickensian nightmare must end

THE death of a homeless person in a hostel just hours before a housing protest began nearby speaks volumes.

It’s a tragedy of almost Dickensian proportions and tells its own sorry tale about just how pitiful our attempts are to tackle the crisis.

As thousands marched demanding action to protect our most vulnerable citizens, one of them was being taken from a homeless facility in a body bag.

It’s the second such fatality in as many weeks and this has sadly become an all-too regular occurrence in hostels due to a Government that seems to lack the political will to resolve this national emergency.

Not only do they need to rein in greedy landlords and developers and build affordable homes, they also need to tackle health and safety issues in homeless hostels.

Many rough sleepers still choose to brave the elements and bed down outdoors rather than enter a hostel because of drug taking and fears for their security.

We have a situation where those most in need cannot access services and hostels within the system are simply not fit for purpose.

Walking city streets dotted with rough sleepers unprotected against the elements may sound like something out of Dickens’ Bleak House or Oliver Twist, but this is Ireland 2019.

Time for a wake-up call Minister Murphy.