Cathal BarryBishops accuse banks, politicians of instilling dread
A lack of Government action for heavily indebted families is turning many homes into places of dread this Christmas rather than comfort and security, Archbishop Eamon Martin has said.
The archbishop said that the Church could not remain silent on this issue of social justice and insisted that politicians have to do more to find creative solutions to help people who are at risk of losing their homes.
He said this is why the hierarchy had chosen to mark Human Rights Day (December 10) by urging politicians and banks to do more to help people who are under pressure.
The archbishop told The Irish Catholic he was “very conscious that many families are in delicate situations with regard to the future of their home”.
Dr Martin’s remarks came as Irish bishops criticised the Government’s “serious failures in social policy and inadequate social protection” which they claim have led to increasing numbers of families registering as homeless.
In a statement, the bishops said “urgent intervention” was required “to prevent more families becoming homeless this winter”.
The bishops express concern that the fundamental human right to housing is not being adequately protected.
The hierarchy insist that the Government urgently needs a strategy “which recognises that a family home is much more than a property or asset” and to prevent more families becoming homeless in the lead up to Christmas.
Referencing in particular families living in a property in mortgage arrears, Archbishop Eamon said “these are people who have a home but are very anxious about losing it”.
Christmas
“Christmas is a time when people become more aware that there are many people in our communities who don’t have anywhere to call a secure home,” he said.
Noting that the home was a pillar of both the Church and society, Dr Martin told this newspaper “there is no question that home is really where we have our heart, where we have our relationships and where we have security”.
“Home is where we develop our family love and charity, it’s where we develop our faith and prayer, and it’s where we develop our children’s education.
“It’s all very well to say that we have somewhere to stay for the night but to have a secure place that you call your home, other than simply emergency or sheltered accommodation, is very important,” he said.
The bishops, in their statement, said the present situation required:
- A redoubling of efforts by all relevant statutory and voluntary agencies in order to pool resources to prevent the death of homeless people on our streets;
- Investment in social housing to provide sustainable solutions to the housing issues in our communities;
- A strategy for dealing with mortgage arrears which enables families to remain in their homes;
- Urgent intervention to address the housing needs of the Travelling Community;
- A coordinated response to the refugee crisis, in partnership with local communities, which ensures that the needs of those who are already here seeking asylum in our society are not overlooked;
- Support for those charities working in Ireland and throughout the world to support those who have lost, or are at risk of losing their home.