The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál Mac Donncha, has joined with trade unions, political parties and housing organisations to call on people to turn out in large numbers to support the National 'Housing is a Human Right' march in Dublin on Saturday, 7thApril. Speaking at a press launch for the march at the Mansion House on Tuesday (3rd April) Lord Mayor said: “I urge people to turn out in huge numbers to support the national demonstration to demand the ‘Right to Housing’. The housing crisis is escalating as a direct result of the Government's refusal to change its policy and to implement the measures needed to provide homes for ou “It is a national scandal that we have seen the number of homeless families with children increasing to record levels. However, this is only one aspect of the crisis. We need to make the demand for ‘Housing as a Human Right’ loud and clear on the streets of Dublin this Saturday." The National Homeless and Housing Coalition, which is organising the march, brings together housing charities, trade unions, community action groups, political parties and minority community representatives. Solidarity protests by the ‘Homes for All’ and other housing campaigners in Britain will also take place outside the Irish Embassy in London on Saturday. Co-chair of the National Homeless and Housing Coalition, Karan O’ Loughlin, said; “Between January and February of this year another 222 families, including 488 children lost their homes in the Republic of Ireland and this figure is growing every month. The National Homeless and Housing Coalition believe that public action is needed in order to challenge the tolerance for this homeless and housing crisis, the commodification of homes and the rising tide of homeless children and families. “We are calling on the public to exercise an act of citizenship by putting their feet on the street on this Saturday April 7th to let the Government know that their failure to deal with this emergency is unacceptable.” She added: “We will be sending a message of solidarity to housing campaigners and their solidarity protest at the Irish Embassy in London this Saturday. This will reinforce the fact that the demand for decent, secure homes and rent control is shared by working class communities in Ireland and around the world. The National Homeless and Housing Coalition has requested marchers to assemble in Parnell Square at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday, from there they will march to City Hall.
Dublin Lord Mayor calls for support for ‘Housing is a Human Right’ march on Saturday
