Housing Provision and Homelessness

That this conference: notes that homelessness is now a major issue North and South; recognises that in the Republic of Ireland the explosion in homelessness and rough sleeping has been one of the unacceptable consequences of the economic crisis and the collapse in public finances; resolves that the path to recovery and fiscal stability must not be pursued in a manner that heralds and takes comfort from increases in property values without effectively addressing the fact that large sections of the population are excluded from home ownership and many more are denied the basic human right of shelter itself; acknowledges the publication of the Social Housing Strategy and efforts earlier this year to take emergency measures in the Dublin area but only after the tragic death of a homeless person within sight of Leinster House; calls for a co-ordinated plan to ensure housing provision, an end to homelessness and adequate security of tenure are core tenets of a post-recession vision for Ireland; insists that such a plan will have the following key elements: a right to adequate housing provision; >regulation of rents through an indexation system, similar to those in European countries with progressive policies that guarantee fairness and stability to tenant and landlord alike; urgent assistance to homeless services to ensure basic decency for those experiencing homelessness; an approach to the resolution of difficulties in the banking system that ensures that every effort is made to resolve issues of mortgage debt without recourse to repossession and eviction;short, medium and long term commitments to a building programme to increase the stock of public housing further support to housing associations to meet gaps in public provision and in niche areas of need. mandates engagement with each of the political parties in the Republic of Ireland toestablish their attitude to such a plan and to seek manifesto commitments in advance of the anticipated general election. Adopted

Irish Municipal Public & Civil Trade Union