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Living on the streets printable version

09 Jan 2017: posted by the editor - Opinion, Ireland

The High Court order requiring the eviction of Dublin's Apollo House homeless residents on Wednesday 11 January falls on the day that the big freeze currently sweeping across Europe is expected to reach Ireland.

Many people have been reported to have died of the severe cold, a number of them homeless people forced to survive on the streets due to having nowhere else to go. It beggars belief that such crises can exist in so-called developed nations

Homelessness in Ireland has been described as a crisis and it is a problem that has been escalating for several years with little being accomplished at government level to effectively tackle the issues, despite an abundance of empty properties across Ireland.

On 15 December 2016, a group of people, including artists, musicians and actors formed a group that took over an empty NAMA property in Dublin, naming the project Home Sweet Home. Their action galvanised support for the project from businesses and citizens wishing to contribute help.

About 40 people who would otherwise have been at risk of being on the street slept at Apollo House over the Christmas period. Christmas dinner was served to about 70.

The High Court eviction order was granted after injunction proceedings were taken by receivers of the building, Mazars.

It took just days after Apollo House was occupied to push the matter through the High Court.

The looming deadline for the court order might be viewed as a test of the determination and care of those in positions of authority to tackle the nation's scourge of homelessness and the tragedy of people being forced to survice on the streets.

Update
On Wednesday, the High Court declined to extend the deadline for eviction and all residents moved out of the building by the close of day.

One of the most pertinent comments regarding developments was posted on Facebook and is reproduced below.

Tags: Apollo House, homelessness

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