OPINION (AN COLÚN): Homelessness rate is massive indictment of our system

THE current homelessness rate is a massive indictment of the system we live in.
What do we call this system? Western Capitalism? Mercantilism? The Free Market?
Whatever we call it, it is plainly not working to a level that could be called civilised.
Homelessness and the Housing Crisis is fundamentally a human rights issue. In a sufficiently civilised society the right to a roof over your head would be a given. Instead we live in a profit-driven world which time and again leaves a nasty, deranged and psychotic taste in the mouth.
When decent people in positions of supposed power try to do the right thing they come up against the hardhearted and unfeeling carapace of the system. We can see that in Eoghan Murphy's recently published memoir. In this book the former Minister for Housing says he was trying to do the right thing but was repeatedly banging his head against a brick wall. He points out that the government began with the intention of approaching the Housing Crisis with the same seriousness that it had approached the Brexit Crisis. However, when the push came to the shove the plug was pulled from that aspiration. “There was to be no Brexit-style committee of secretaries general for housing,” writes Mr Murphy, “no all-of-government approach, no co-ordination unit in the Taoiseach's department.” His secretary general and himself find themselves getting nowhere in meetings. “Had people been sent into the room intentionally to obstruct me, or were they just out of control? Anything we suggested was attacked. And when they then suggested something similar, and we agreed, we were told there wasn't any money for it.” In other words, the Minister was stonewalled by obstructive group think, and was given the oldest excuse for non-action in the book: there isn't sufficient money for it.
As the Housing Crisis trundled interminably along the Minister became the focus for the public's ire. The comments directed against him became so heated that the possibility of physical violence became a real fear. His sleeping patterns deteriorated, his fatigue increased and his outlook became increasingly fearful and negative.
Mr Murphy tells us that he felt trapped. Sometimes he became tearful. His thoughts often circulated around yearned-for escape and freedom. Finally, after three years in the role, he resigned from the position of Housing Minister.
Eoghan Murphy's memoir is refreshing because of its honesty and it possesses the ring of truth. However, it raises major questions about the government's direction of travel and the lack of will to get the job done.
Can other countries provide inspiration and instruction for a better road ahead? Councillors often talk about the Austrian model as being a good way to go. Certainly, it has many good points. In Vienna renters pay a third of what renters pay in Dublin. Excellent, centrally located apartments in Vienna can have a rent of about €600 a month, a world of difference from the eyewatering charges landlords impose on similar apartments in Dublin. Tenants don't have to put down a deposit and their rental contracts are unlimited, which means they could pass the apartments on to their children or siblings if they wish. This is possible because 220,000 socially rented apartments are owned by the city council.
Another excellent housing model can be found in Finland. The Finns have been daring, brave and emotionally intelligent. Most importantly, their way works.
In 2008, the Finnish government introduced the Housing First policy, aimed at eradicating long-term homelessness. This is a human rights-based strategy that provides housing and social services. Through partnerships between the state, cities, municipalities, and local non-governmental organizations, the policy has gradually reduced the reliance on conventional short-term shelters, transforming them into affordable rented accommodation units.
From 2008 to 2022, the number of individuals experiencing long-term homelessness in Finland decreased by 68 percent.
In Finland everyone is entitled to a settled place to live, regardless of circumstance, reversing traditional homeless aid approaches. Having stable living conditions makes it easier to look for a job and work on psychological and health problems.
Homeless people can get an apartment without any preconditions. Being in a more secure position and having social worker support makes it easier for them to find a job and take care of their physical and mental health.
The framework respects choice and autonomy, allowing individuals to select treatments and services. Individuals are not required to solve social and health issues beforehand, like completely giving up alcohol or drug use. Moreover, support is tailored to the needs of the person, and this is made possible due to the high standards of public social services.
If we want to progress as a society, if we wish to become more enlightened and create a better world then we should transcend our current housing model, which has failure sewn into it, and follow the people of decency and vision who forged better ways in countries such as Austria and Finland. As Hannah Arendt said, “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”