A HOMELESS SUPPORT group has occupied a vacant building in the centre of Dublin as a means of providing support to homeless families.
The action has been taken by the Irish Housing Network who say that the vacant premises will house two homeless families.
The group was involved in the occupation of South Dublin County Council last week when homeless couple, Alan Murphy and Kelly Gilsenan slept in the Council building after being forced to leave their private rented accommodation.
The group has stated that its aim is the “liberation and opening up of vacant residential units throughout Dublin and beyond”.
The property being occupied is 38 and 39 Bolton Street, a site the group claims belongs to Dublin City Council (DCC), although this is unconfirmed at this time.
The Irish Housing Network has stated that the DCC have not yet been informed of the occupation.
It is said that the property has been vacant for the past three years and was previously in use as a B & B.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie this afternoon, spokesperson for the group, Seamus Farrell, said that he could foresee the groups efforts expanding into a number of other State-owned properties.
“I think particularly we feel that council buildings and NAMA properties that are not being put to use should all be handed straight over and used. If we do it and we push on with it or if the Council agree to actually push on – either way that is a good result for us. What we want to see is that people are housed,” he said.
Senior officials from the Department of the Environment met with the group on 18 June and requested that a submission be made – something the Irish Housing Network is yet to do.
On this, Farrell said there were plans in place to submit a full document, but that from the group’s meeting at the Department, it did not feel its proposals would be considered seriously.
The Department described the group’s plan to occupy vacant properties as “a matter for the relevant statutory authorities”.
Dublin City Council were contacted and their response is pending.
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