People Before Profit members in Fingal joined a united front of residents, community groups and activists at a Solidarity Rally that took place on 24th August in Applewood, Swords.
The residents and CATU had organised the rally in support of families being evicted for profit by the corporate vulture fund, LRC RE-1/Home Club.
Chairing the rally Ollie Power, People Before Profit Representative for Swords, praised the determination and courage of the families and children who were standing up for themselves and refusing to be kicked out of their homes for no reason:
“The message is going out loud and clear to the landlord; the families are not leaving, not only because they have nowhere to go but because it’s the right thing to do; they’re not letting their children go into homeless shelters”
He also questioned the absence of the Minister for Housing, who had not made an appearance at the rally despite repeated invitations from the residents:
“Minister O’Brien can’t find it in himself to face these people. He can act to help some of the most vulnerable people in his own constituency, but he chooses to serve landlords and the wealthy.”
The residents spoke about the difficulty of finding alternative accommodation in the middle of the housing crisis, and pointed the finger of blame firmly at the landlord and, the Minister for Housing.
The rally was also addressed by speakers from CATU and Councillors Madeleine Johannsen (PBP), Dean Mulligan (I4C) & Ann Graves (SF).
The rally concluded by calling for the immediate reinstatement of the eviction ban, amendments to the law to protect tenants from landlords who refuse to renew tenancies for no reason, a system of Compulsory Purchase of properties from landlords when it is in the public interest and a drive to put the nearly 5,000 vacant homes in Fingal County Council into use for families in need.
Representatives from CATU invited tenants to join and announced the date of the next meeting on 2nd September which will continue the campaign to support the families and children being evicted.