Sir, – Fr Peter McVerry (April 2nd) wrote that the rent support system was hindering rather than helping homeless people escape homelessness. At first I didn’t believe it.
But then I remembered Fr McVerry’s track record and realised it must be true. I watched for some comment from either Joan Burton as the minister responsible, or from her department, thanking Fr McVerry for making them aware of the problem and saying that action would be taken to rectify it. But no one responded.
As Fr McVerry says, it does seem that administrative convenience comes well ahead of vulnerable people. Surely the Minister or her staff should implement the spirit of protection they proclaim in their name of Social Protection and devise a system which will eliminate this catch-22 situation hindering people trying to escape from homelessness? – Yours, etc,