Madam, - We have brought to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government a matter we encountered through our drop-in centre where we assist people with marital and relationship problems.
This is where a man may have left the family home more than 20 years ago, gone to England to work or else moved into alternative rented accommodation following a family dispute. These men are now at retiring age, on a pension, and cannot afford current high rents.
They don't qualify for council housing as they are part-owners of a family home. They are not entitled to a rent allowance because they are not on the housing list. A catch-22 situation.
Yes, there are options available to these men. They can take their spouse to court with a view to selling the family home, but if that spouse is now elderly, is this the route to take? Following the sale, would there be sufficient funds to buy two homes? I doubt it. The other alternative would be for a man to transfer full ownership to his former wife thereby freeing him to go on the council housing list. He is very much the loser in this situation.
I hope the Minister can rectify this ruling so as to allow these men to go on a council housing list, thereby perhaps offering them some security in old age. - Yours, etc,
CASSIAN SWEENEY, Chairperson, AIM Family Services, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.