Homeless for the New Year
As the bells ring in the new millenium, not all the people of Ireland
will revel in the celebrations.
Despite the Celtic Tiger, many in our society remain caught in the
poverty trap, the unemployed, the homeless and the elderly especially,
with little Christmas cheer or hope that their New Year wishes will
ever be granted.
other group facing an uncertain future are the remaining tenants of
Lansdowne Apartments in Dublin's Drimnagh area. The landlord, Thomas
Quinn, has served them with eviction orders. An eviction due on Monday
13 December was postponed when the tenants organised to oppose it.
Dublin Corporation's sheriff announced a reprieve until New Year's
Day. Several other tenants, including five young families, have
eviction dates for 2 January 2000.
Backing the residents' call for Dublin Corporation to purchase the 50
or so apartments in the three-building complex, Sinn Féin
representative for the area, Aengus Ó Snodaigh said:
``With a housing crisis in the city, it is disgraceful that
exploitative landlords can make people homeless with the backing of
the city's sheriff. This complex should be purchased, to prevent the
remaining tenants from being made homeless and to provide homes for
some of the thousands on Dublin's lengthening housing list.''
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)