A year has passed but still no referendum on a right to housing.

National homeless figures have exceeded 10,000 people for the first time since the eviction ban was brought in at the start of the pandemic. In Limerick there are now more families and children in emergency accommodation than at any time since the pandemic began according to the most recent Limerick City and County Council Chief Executive's report.

Ruairí Fahy, local representative for People Before Profit said, "On the doors I've heard stories from families who've received eviction notices and been told that there is no space available for them in the family hubs. The system is creaking at the seams and the reliance on private market rents paid by HAP is showing once again that it's not fit for purpose being more expensive and less secure than state built public housing."

A recent report by Threshold shows that in 2021 the price of renting a home in Limerick City has increased by 13.8%. The city is a rent pressure zone which places a maximum limit of 2% on any rent increases that a landlord can apply in one year. This increase comes at a time when there are rarely more than 15 places available to rent in the city at any one time, none of which are within the HAP limits.

The housing activist commented, "I've been speaking to people about their rental situation around Limerick and many said they were not aware of the 2% limit on rent increases. Some of these people have seen their rent increase by 5% or more, many of them didn't even have their tenancy registered with the RTB. Most tenants didn't want to fight for their rights out of fear their landlord would evict them if they kicked up a fuss. The lack of enforcement of tenancy rules leaves landlords in a position where they are free to abuse their position of power over tenants."

In June 2021 People Before Profit brought a bill in front of the Dáil for a referendum to be held placing a right to housing in the constitution. The bill passed as the government abstained from the vote. In the past 12 months since the bill was passed no effort has been made by the government to bring the bill to committee stage for further discussion.

On the referendum Ruairí added, "It's been a year since the Dáil passed People Before Profit's bill to hold a referendum inserting the right to housing into the constitution but there's been no effort by the government to bring it forward and let people have their say.

"Here in Limerick homelessness has been quickly rising since the eviction ban was lifted and the government is refusing to reinstate it. Beds in homeless accommodation are running out and the number of children and families now in emergency accommodation is higher than before the pandemic began.

"The government's excuse that it would be unconstitutional to put people's need to keep a roof over their heads before the profits of landlords show the need to let people have their say and if the referendum passes change the laws to put an end to the heartlessness of evicting people into homelessness."