Focus Ireland is hoping to help thousands of homeless people to register to vote ahead of the local and European elections in June.
Focus Ireland’s director of advocacy Mike Allen said that there are around 9,500 homeless adults in Ireland and many of them would not be registered to vote.
The charity is now hoping to change that as voting registration was simplified after the Electoral Reform Act was passed in 2022.
More than 50,000 Irish people have spent at least one night of their lives homeless, according to figures published by Focus Ireland.
‘Pretty simple’ to register
James Flanagan became homeless when he was a toddler. He and his mother were living on the streets and moving around hostels before getting help from Focus Ireland.
Mr Flanagan has been supported by the charity ever since.
Now aged 20, Mr Flanagan is in an apprenticeship and last week, he registered to vote ahead of Focus Ireland’s voter registration drive campaign.
James said it was easy for him to register to vote.
He said: “It was pretty simple. All you need is a cell phone or computer or anything with internet and you can register.
“You put your address in and your PPS number and then you’re registered, and you can go off and vote.”
“It takes about not even two minutes to finish,” he added.
“I can’t wait to see what we [homeless people] can do and change this country from what it is.
In June, Mr Flanagan will vote in three elections – the European elections, the local elections and the patents referendum. For him, he said the local elections are the most important.
Mr Flanagan said he wants to use his vote to change the homelessness situation.
“I can’t wait to see what we [homeless people] can do and change this country from what it is,” he said.
“At the moment it’s the biggest crisis in Ireland and it’s just going to spread and go more rampant.
“It’s going to keep happening and keep going if we don’t change it and with the vote we can change it,” he added.
Mr Flanagan is encouraging other people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness to register to vote.
He said that they can use their unique experiences to their advantage.
“You have more of a voice than most people because you’re actually in the situation that people are trying to fit.
“Someone that’s never been homeless doesn’t really know as much as someone who is homeless.
“Fixing the situation counts more to them and they can actually see the problem that’s on the street … they’re the witnesses of that,” he added.
