Westmeath entrepreneurs hold key to tackling homeless crisis – Troy
Published on: 18 September 2015
Fianna Fáil TD for Longford – Westmeath Robert Troy has called on the Government to give serious consideration towards the idea of using modular homes as a short term measure to tackle the escalating housing crisis.
Deputy Troy made the comments after inspecting a number of modular homes on display by organisations seeking to tackle the housing crisis. Skyclad, a local Westmeath enterprise based in Milltownpass, was one of the organisations taking part in the display.
“This week I had the opportunity to visit a number of different modular homes on display. The units were constructed by Skyclad, a local enterprise based in Milltownpass, and they are being put forward as a real solution to the ongoing homeless crisis which is spreading across the country,” said Deputy Troy.
“I was impressed by the high quality nature of the units. They are well insulated and contain dedicated bedrooms, kitchens and living spaces. From speaking with families in Westmeath who have been forced out of their accommodation I know that they would much rather stay in a modular home on a short term basis, rather than being forced into unsuitable accommodation.
“These modular homes should be used by local authorities to tackle the homeless crisis on a short term basis. It is unacceptable that the Government is expecting families with young children to live in unsuitable emergency accommodation. These families are being thrown into hotel rooms where entire families are living in one room with no cooking facilities.
“Many families are being forced to live in emergency accommodation for months on end, and this is simply not good enough. It’s shocking that our local authorities cannot provide adequate housing for these families. The Government must give serious consideration towards the idea of using these modular homes on a temporary basis to tackle the homeless crisis.
“€4.5m was spent on emergency accommodation in Dublin alone last year. This money would be much better spent on providing modular homes for homeless people alongside meaningful investment in permanent housing to tackle the underlying causes of this crisis.
“The Government must ensure that adequate support services are provided for families who may end up living in modular homes on a short term basis. Adequate lighting, sewage facilities and transport options must be provided before families are expected to move in.
“It is encouraging to see a local Westmeath based enterprise doing its utmost to tackle the housing crisis. It is now up to the Government to take the opportunity to use these modular homes to tackle what is a growing national crisis.”