Louth members of Ireland’s tenants’ and housing union, Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) will be joining an all-island housing demonstration on Saturday July 5th in Dublin City Centre and are encouraging anyone who would like to join them on the march to make contact.

The march is being held in response to the rapidly escalating housing crisis in both the Republic and the North of Ireland.  Louth branch members will be joining hundreds of people from across the island and are encouraging those who would like to either join the housing union or simply join them on the day, to reach out.

A bus has been arranged for locals who would like to take part, with pick-up times in both Dundalk and Drogheda on July 5th. Contact “CATU Louth” as soon as possible via either their Instagram or Facebook accounts.

CATU believes that the governments in power in both jurisdictions have demonstrated their inability and lack of commitment to addressing homelessness and housing inequality, as exemplified by recent announcements to gut the tenant-in-situ scheme and end the limited forms of rent control in force in the Republic against the backdrop of record number of families living in emergency accommodation.

Kitty Colbert, a member of CATU Louth, states that: “Renters are struggling to survive, and landlords are making money off misery. This housing crisis is a man-made catastrophe and the government needs to end it.

“I would encourage anyone that believes that people should feel safe and secure in their own homes, if you are against homelessness and austerity, then come out on July 5th and let's all work together”.

CATU is an all-island union and is calling on both the Dáil and Stormont to immediately implement a number of measures to protect people across the island from homelessness, including the introduction and reinstatement of the eviction ban; a commitment to ensure no child is living in emergency accommodation by 2026; and a full and proper resourcing of the tenant in situ scheme.

The union is also demanding an end to the inhumane and exploitative direct provision system, and urgent resourcing and provision of culturally appropriate Traveller accommodation to end the discrimination which sees Travellers overrepresented in the homeless figures. The union also demands a rapid expansion of community mental health and addiction support to address the complex harms experienced by many people forced into the homeless system.

CATU is calling for everyone, and all community and political groups, who are disgusted with their governments’ failure to address the housing crisis to come together on the 5th of July to support the protest.