Young, homeless and unemployed: Jobseekers under 26 experiencing homelessness worst affected
Thursday 4th October, 2018
Crosscare is urging the Government to reverse the discriminatory cuts to Jobseeker’s Allowance for adults under 26 experiencing homelessness. Uniting at the gates of Leinster House with the National Youth Council of Ireland, the Union of Students Ireland, the Coalition to End Youth Homelessness, Teen Parents Support Programme and Uplift, they will present a petition of over 1800 signatures supporting the call. The #RestoreTheYouthSafetynet campaign represents young adults experiencing homelessness and poverty traps, trying to survive on the lower rate Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Danielle Mc Laughlin, spokesperson for Crosscare said: “For adults under 26 experiencing homelessness and living alone, the lower Jobseeker’s Allowance makes it significantly difficult for them to achieve a sustainable living. It is particularly unfairly affecting young adults who are in homeless services and those with International Protection moving out of Direct Provision centres to live alone. There is an unfair assumption that young jobseekers have fewer needs and costs than older jobseekers. It is discriminatory and this is resulting in them being left behind in a society that does not hear their voice.
“Crosscare calls on the government to restore the full adult rate of €198 per week for Jobseekers under 26 years old who are experiencing homelessness or have recently exited homelessness and are living independently without social supports. This would support young adults to move out of homelessness and into independent living. It will enable them to start a path towards achieving their full potential. We have an obligation to leave no one behind in our economic recovery and in our commitments under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion.” said Ms Mc Laughlin. ENDS
Notes to editor:
The #Restoretheyouthsafetynet ran an online petition on Uplift and raised 1800 signatures. Two animated videos were produced to promote the campaign and are on the petition page: https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/restoretheyouthsafetynet
About Crosscare:
Crosscare is the Social Support Agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin and provides a range of social care, community and youth work services across the Dublin Archdiocese. Established in 1941, Crosscare continues to play a significant role in the provision of services to people affected by poverty in the Dublin area.
Website: www.crosscare.ie
Holy Cross College,
Clonliffe Road,
Dublin 3,
Ireland.
Tel: 01 836 0011
Fax: 01 836 7166
Email: info@crosscare.ie
