Madam, - Focus Ireland welcomes the report in The Irish Times(Feb 6th,) that Dublin City Council has moved to change the weighting system for allocation of social housing to ensure two-parent and single-parent families will now be processed on an equal footing.
However, it is important to note the key issue in addressing social housing need is to increase output to ensure supply meets demand. The most recent figures show over 43,000 households on housing waiting lists nationwide. Focus Ireland and the other leading voluntary agencies estimate up to 5,000 people are homeless in Ireland. The housing waiting list backlog exists as social housing targets were not met under successive governments.
The Towards 2016 social partnership framework commits to the relevance of the NESC targets of 73,000 additional social housing units in the period 2004 to 2012.
This works out as 9,125 homes per year. However, Department of the Environment figures show that between 2004-06 just over 19,000 social houses were provided, leaving a shortfall in the region of 8,000 during these years.
The final figures for 2007 are not yet available but indications show output should be in the region of the NESC target of over 9,000 for the year. If this is the case it is to be welcomed but it is important to note this does not make any inroads into the shortfall of homes not delivered between 2004 and 2006.
In recent years progress has been made to tackle homelessness and moves are being made towards addressing housing needs. To keep on track the Government must ensure existing year on year housing targets are met and also take steps to make up for earlier lost ground. To claw back this ground both the local authority and voluntary social housing providers must get the resources and political support as required. The Government could boost housing options for those in most need by increasing capital funding for social housing providers to ensure the required volume and quality can be delivered, particularly in areas with most demand.
Housing provision under Part V has been gaining traction as it has become established as a principle.
However, it is vital that local authorities ensure that sufficient numbers of Part V housing are committed to social rental need and that those that are delivered are affordable on an ongoing basis.
Many Part V units, for example, have substantial service charges associated with them that are beyond the means of social housing providers or their tenants. Actions such as these will improve access to housing for those most in need, help prevent and tackle homelessness while also cutting the housing waiting lists.
- Yours, etc,
DAVID BURKE, Head of Development, Focus Ireland, 9-12 High Street, Dublin 8.