Thousands of people attend housing crisis protest in Dublin city centre

Thousands of people have gathered today [May 18] in Dublin's city centre for a protest against homelessness.

According to RTÉ, the Raise the Roof protest was organised by trade unions, political parties and community groups. The national broadcaster report that organisers are putting the number of people in attendance around between 10,000 and 20,000 people. Protestors gathered at Parnell Square around 1pm this afternoon, before marching down to the quays and then back to the GPO.

We are at the #RaiseTheRoof housing demonstration as feet hit the street to demand an end to governement indifference towards the housing and homelessness emergency.

We finish outside the GPO with speeches and musical performances so please join us!#RaiseTheRoof #HomesForAll pic.twitter.com/V8fy55agVK — ICHHDUBLIN (@ICHHDUBLIN) May 18, 2019

There, they heard from a number of different speakers, including those from political parties, community groups and unions. People who are homeless, and people who are living in direct provision, also deliverd speeches.

Many of us in Ireland are living a life delayed. We wait to start the lives we want to live because we can’t find a home. Come join us on the #raisetheroof protest right now on Parnell square and demand Public housing, lower rents and call for change! pic.twitter.com/4fXw1uLPeT

— Emmet Kirwan (@EmmetKirwan) May 18, 2019

Father Peter McVerry was among the speakers, where he issued a warning about how the thousands of people with mortgages in arrears could result in what is already a crisis becoming a catastrophe. He added that some more immediate measures needed to be put into place to keep families from becoming homeless. There were also calls for the Government to declare homelessness a national emergency, as well as a legal right to free housing.

Housing is a human right ✊Marching for action. Marching against over crowding, slum landlords, discrimination, poor conditions, vulture funds. Lets #RaiseTheRoof pic.twitter.com/pNSVKwne3d

— Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (@MigrantRightsIr) May 18, 2019

Main image via Inner City Helping Homeless Additional image via Taryn DeVere