Kathleen Holohan (Director Of Housing) sleeps well

by Anthony Thu Sep 08, 2005 01:35

This article sounds interesting but it would be more useful if a bit more basic background to Antoinette's story was included such as how she ended up sleeping outside the Dun Laoghaire council office.

by Donal Thu Sep 08, 2005 01:52

I agree, whats the circumstances and where are the children during this protest? Was she in a council home beforehand and removed for some reason or simple on the 'waiting' list.

by Richard Boyd Barrett - Dun laoghaire Housing Action Comittee Thu Sep 08, 2005 09:34 087 632 9511

SUPPORT ANTOINETTE and her 3 CHILDREN

HOUSING IS A RIGHT
NOT A PRIVILEGE

Antoinette Tate, mother of three young children, aged, 6 4, and 11 months has
just begun an indefinite round the clock protest outside Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown Co Council offices.
The Council has failed to offer Antoinette suitable accommodation after she
was made homeless when a private landlord evicted her and her family for being
a few days late with her rent.
Antoinette's young babyhas-a-serious illness. Stephen, aged 11 months, has
been diagnosed with chronic Bronchialitis, a serious asthmatic conditi6fh-Antoinette
is also very concerned about her other children who have been
very upset as a result of constant moves from one private rented accommodation
to another over the last five years.
The Council has only offered temporary emergency accommodation to
Antoinette but both offers were completely unsuitable for a mother with three
young children. . One was absolutely filthy and on the sixth floor with windows
that could not be closed properly and no heating. The other was a single room
for all three of them, in South Circular Road, although the children go to school
in Sallynoggin.
Antoinette is also very angry that the council threatened to have social
services take her children from her if she went ahead with her protest. This is
typical o~Cf[cs the council use against ordinary people demanding
~~~ .
However, Antoinette is determined to continue her protest until the council
offers her a proper home for herself and her children. We appeal to the public to
support Antoinette and her children in their battle for housing.
Antoinette's situation is also a result of the failed housing policy of the
council and government. They are happy to look after private developers but not
the housing needs of ordinary people.
We must also demand the council and government take emergency action to
provide housing for the thousands of people left to rot on the housing list.
Housing is a Right not a Privilege!
. Visit Antoinette on her protest outside the Town hall to show your support..
Sign the petition calling for housing for Antoinette's family and all those on
the housing list.

For more into contact Antoinette Tate 086 4059655 or Richard
Boyd Barrett 087 6329511

Leaflet issued by Dun Laoghaire Housing Action Committee

by John Direct Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:20

This is a disgrace.

Please phone Dun Laoghaire housing department and demand that Antoinette and her 3 children be given a house immeiately.

Where are our councillors?

Gone on one of their € 800,000 outings to see the plight of the homeless in Galway?

Ring or e/mail the people responsible for this and ask why?

[email protected]
205 4828
Kathleen Holohan...205 4713
Rita Flynn..................205 4752
Bernie O'Reilly..........205 4753
Liz Clifford..................205 4828
Marie Egan.................205 4754

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Thu Sep 08, 2005 12:35 streetseen04 at hotmail dot com 0774 327 5533

Housing charity Threshold in its 2004 Annual Report, showed the number of calls from people living in unfit accommodation had risen by more than a third last year.

Conditions people were reporting included problems with hot and cold running water, mould growing on walls, vermin infestations and living in windowless rooms. Threshold also claimed local authorities were failing in their duty to inspect privately-rented accommodation, with only 7,232 of an estimated 150,000 dwellings checked by inspectors.

According to the report, almost 30% of inspected properties were found to be falling below minimum standards, but legal action was only taken in four cases. Aideen Hayden, chairwoman of Threshold, said the wrong message was being sent out to landlords and called for local authorities to step up inspections, prosecute more cases and name and shame those found guilty of breaches of the law.

“The introduction of the new Residential Tenancies Act last year has greatly improved tenants rights in the private rented sector,” she said.“But the Government must now copper-fasten this progress by tackling the quality of accommodation, particularly at the lower end of the market.“It is totally unacceptable that people are forced to live in windowless flats, sleep in bedrooms covered in mildew or make do without hot running water.“We also have to ask is it acceptable that in this day and age people are expected to live in one room with a toilet opening off it, and that room is their kitchen, living room, dining room and their bedroom? ”Ms Hayden called for the Government to ensure existing standards were enforced and to also introduce new standards which reflected current accepted living standards.

Sh also warned that the introduction of apartment-style living in inner cities did not cater for families who were being housed in them. Much of the accommodation was being let to rent supplement tenants which resulted in high concentrations of poverty, she said. “Too few apartments are designed with children in mind – living spaces are cramped with no play or study areas and often there is nowhere to dry clothes or to store children’s toys and bikes. “Unfortunately while we are following a European model of apartment dwelling, we are not following the standards of amenities that make communal living possible,” she said.“The Government needs to act urgently to make sure we are not putting in place slum clearance programmes like the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s in the Ireland of 2010,” she said.

Threshold saw an increase in use of its services last year, with a total of 20,601 people coming to the charity for help.The return of deposits was a growing problem for tenants, and advice workers dealt with 44% more cases last year than in 2003.The number of calls about illegal evictions also grew by 41% to 271 cases.But Threshold’s Access Unit – which helps homeless people into rented accommodation – completed its second successful year, helping 127 people, including children, into a home.

by Brian Stone Thu Sep 08, 2005 19:46

Liz Clifford (Admin officer DLCC Housing) should be sacked.

She is not doing her job properly.

She said in the Southside People newspaper that the accommodation Antoinette had turned down was “perfectly adequate”

Yet she has not visited the places in question.

She says that the properties have to meet standards but only 7% are checked.

“Most” and “unless” are the excuses favoured by Clifford.

She is a disgrace for leaving a mother and 3 kids on the street.

I would like to see her trying to rent a flat on a “rent supplement”

She must be sacked at once.

Children on the street.

by Public Thu Sep 08, 2005 20:39

theres more to this than we are being told.

For example, wheres the childrens father/fathers during this? Where are the children sleeping at the moment?

I also think its wrong to encourage flood calling the housing department, how can they house anyone if they are stuck on the phone all day? Besides, its not the poor soul taking the calls that has the power to do anything about it. Why not approach the local government/council officials?

by Raymond McInerney - Global Country of World Peace Fri Sep 09, 2005 01:12 raymond.mcinerney at ul dot ie 00353860638611

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has invited all the builders of every nation to reconstruct the world in accord with Natural Law—and to do it simultaneously and quickly. “Time and tide wait for no one,” Maharishi said during his August 3 global news conference.

Builders will share one-third of their profit with the National Peace Fund in their country and another third with the International Peace Fund. These funds will be used to construct Peace Palaces in every city and fortune-creating homes for the poor.

http://www.mou.org/media/pr/2005_08_09.html

by Joan Fri Sep 09, 2005 09:21

Whoever in the council wrote this should be sacked now.

Children's father/Fathers.

I don't believe it.

This abusive and insulting comment should be disowned by the council.

by Jon Glackin - Street Seen Sat Sep 10, 2005 14:43 streetseen04 at hotmail dot com 0774 327 5533

From todays Irish Times:

Two homeless found dead in 12-hour period

Gardaí were last night trying to positively identify the bodies of two homeless people who were found dead within a 12-hour period on the south side of Dublin city centre,

The remains of the two deceased, one male and one female, were found separately within walking distance of the Camden Street and Harcourt Street areas of the city.

The body of the female, understood to have been in her 30s and sleeping rough, was discovered lying in a back alleyway off Camden Street at 10pm on Thursday evening.

The second body was discovered at 8.45am yesterday by staff at the nearby Sancta Maria hostel on Charlemont Street, after he failed to come down for breakfast.

Management at the hostel yesterday refused to comment on the incident.

However, it is understood that the man, thought to be in his late 30s or early 40s, had been staying in emergency accommodation at the hostel for between four and five days.

He had stayed there once before.

The scene of the homeless woman's death was sealed off by gardaí yesterday afternoon pending further forensic investigation.

One homeless man, who is said to have known the woman well, described her as someone "who would do anything for you.

"She would always look to cheer you up, no matter how little money she had . . . She would give you some of her can, even if it was all she had," he said.

Gardaí are confident neither death is suspicious, although a full postmortem is expected to be carried out.

A spokeswoman for the Garda press office said the identity of both of the deceased had been established provisionally .

However, gardaí are awaiting the formal positive identification of the bodies.

A 2004 survey conducted by homeless organisations in Dublin city, and coordinated by the Homeless Agency, indicated that some 237 people sleep rough in Dublin city centre on a regular basis.

These people are vulnerable to changes in the weather, violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.

When contacted for comment, Alice Leahy, director of the homeless charity Trust, said homeless people dying on the streets of Dublin is now "almost a weekly occurrence".

She said her organisation has seen a marked increase in the number of people looking to use its services.

"It is horrific that two people have been found dead geographically so near to each other," she said.

"We're not hearing about these deaths. It is a very serious issue and we can't deny it."

by dunk Sun Sep 11, 2005 13:11

at
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71899&condense_comments=false#comment121119
the following post

Following the deaths of two homeless people in the city centre last night..
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71896

Isn't it time we started thinking about how space in the city is being used?
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=71888

by ffs Sun Sep 11, 2005 15:37

!

by Jon Glackin Tue Sep 13, 2005 13:26

Spoke to Antoinette briefly yesterday. She is still encamped outside Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown Co Council offices.
Im aware the campaigning group had a meeting last night. It would be cool to get a report back here and update to what is happening?

by Public Tue Sep 13, 2005 21:49

"About "More to it"
by Joan Friday, Sep 9 2005, 8:21am


Whoever in the council wrote this should be sacked now.

Children's father/Fathers.

I don't believe it.

This abusive and insulting comment should be disowned by the council."

No one in the council said this I did. where did you get the idea that it was the council?

And whats insulting? Every child has a father thats simple biology.

by Joan Peters Wed Sep 14, 2005 15:57

A mother of 3 children has slept on the street for 2 weeks.
Mother of 3 two weeks on the street

Women of Dublin………..HELP!!

The women (led by Liz Clifford) who run the Dun Laoghaire County Council Housing department are misogynists.

They have the flat that Antoinette and her3 young children need.

Yet, they have left a mother on the street for two weeks.

It is cold sleeping on the pavement.

Antoinette’s 3 children miss her terribly.

They do not know where she is.

She could not tell them she was sleeping on the street to try and get them a home.

Please support Antoinette and her 3 children.

Antoinette is cold and sick sleeping on the street as winter descends.

Please call up and visit.

Call the county manager (Brady) and demand action.

Antoinette

by Curious Wed Sep 14, 2005 21:16

Why, if such a suitable flat is available would the Council not house her?

I assume the one turned down is the only one available.

No point in making phone calls to hassle staff with no decision making powers.
It's not like Bertie answers when you ring the Dail.

All properly addressed letters must be read by the person on the envelope.

by unsure Wed Sep 14, 2005 21:18

Why, if such a suitable flat is available would the Council not house her?

I assume the one turned down is the only one available.

No point in making phone calls to hassle staff with no decision making powers.
It's not like Bertie answers when you ring the Dail.

All properly addressed letters must be read by the person on the envelope.

by Slim Richards Thu Sep 15, 2005 07:12

ANTOINETTE AND HER 3 CHILDREN ARE ON THE STREET
It is raining outside now and a mother of 3 is sleeping on the street outside the council office in Dun Laoghaire.

The rest of us have nice comfortable beds.

This is not right.

Liz Clifford of the council housing department can fix this today.

She has a flat for Antoinette and her 3 children.

She must give it to her without further delay.

Call Liz at 205 4828 and ask her to give Antoinette and her 3 children a flat.

Otherwise call cathaoirleach of the council pat hand at 205 4700 and ask him to do something.

Councillor Hand said, when elected, that he had a special interest in women and children and that he would like to encourage them to play sport.

Well there is not much chance of Antoinette and her 3 children playing sport on the pavement outside his office.

Antoinette and Pat

by Dave - SWP Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:31

Antoinette will speak at a public meeting on next Thursday 22nd in the Portview hotel in Dun Laoghaire at 8pm. She will speak alongside Margaret Watson, who was housed by the council in June after two weeks on a similiar protest. Richard Boyd Barrett from the SWP, who are supporting and assisting Antoinettes campaign, and the TD's CIaran Cuffe of the Green Party and Eamonm Gilmore of Labour, who have both been vocal in highlighting the housing crisis.
You can support Antoinette by dropping by the picket line anytime for a chat and to keep her company. The council, fearful of an avalanche of similiar protests, are taking a very hard line on Antoinettes case, refusing at tthis point to even meet with her and her supporters; so the protest may go on for some time to come and Antoinette would appreciate any and all support people and organisations can give to her. For further info, or to arrange interviews etc, you can call Colman on 0877583908 or Chris on 0851555224.