Homeless people encouraged to vote to bring ‘real, solid change’ on housing

Focus Ireland will hold voter registration events on Thursday to help people to register to vote.

Those who do not have a home address can use the Eircode of the area where they spend the most time to register and to receive their polling card.

Louise Bayliss, campaign co-ordinator at Focus Ireland, said they were launching the campaign now because if an election is announced three weeks before polling day, it does not give people a lot of time to register.

People can register to vote up to 15 days before the election date, excluding Sundays and public holidays.

“We’re saying, let’s jump ahead of it and make sure people have time to do it,” Ms Bayliss said on Wednesday.

“We’re encouraging anybody – young people, marginalised people, carers, people with disabilities, but especially people who are facing the worst of the housing crisis – to come and register to vote now.

“There is a real sense of empowerment when you cast your vote and you feel more included in society.”

The number of people in emergency accommodation in Ireland rose to 14,760 in September, a 15% increase on the same month last year.

This includes 4,561 children and 2,133 families, according to the Department of Housing figures.

It is likely that the next official housing figures will be published on the same day as polling day – Friday November 29.

The housing charity’s appeal to vote is not only for those facing homelessness, but those who were homeless at some stage, people who have received a notice of termination and people in receipt of a Housing Assistance Payment.

Ms Bayliss encouraged people to attend Focus Ireland’s offices where staff will help them register to vote.

Case workers will also reach out to people as part of their work and when asking the usual list of questions will ask if they have registered to vote.

They will also have supports on their website to help people decide how to vote.

“We have come up with what we believe are five solutions that will end homelessness,” Ms Bayliss said.

“We have a tool being developed on our website, so when the election is called people will be able to go on to our website where they will be able to choose their constituency and then send an email to all candidates in their area, asking them will they support the five solutions, hearing the response back, and then allowing the person to choose who they want to vote for if their priority is homelessness and housing.”

She added: “I’m quite confident people do care about it, but we need to see real, solid change.”