Waiting Lists increase by 75% to almost 100,000 households
The Irish Council for Social Housing has said that there is a crisis in social housing in reaction to the figures released today which reveal that there are 98,318 households on a waiting list for housing.
Executive Director of the Irish Council for Social Housing Mr Donal McManus said, ‘The huge increase in the number of households in housing need since the last assessment in 2008 is unprecedented and gives a clear idea of the scale of the challenge ahead’.
The figures show that 67% of households in housing need were unable to meet the cost of accommodation. This figure has more than doubled since the last assessment in 2008 in line with the recession and growth in unemployment. Over 78% of those in need of housing have annual incomes of less than €15,000 demonstrating the link between unemployment and housing need.
Over 43,000 households on the waiting list are family households with children- which accounts for over 71,000 children. There are over 2,200 older people and 1,300 people with disabilities who are very vulnerable and rely on the state to provide them with housing.
Donal McManus concluded ‘this crisis has been growing in the background, the housing needs assessment is only undertaken every three years and it is clear that there is an urgent need for more up to date annual assessments to enable the voluntary housing sector and local authorities to respond strategically’. An additional 22,000 households have been accessed as being in need of housing in the last year alone.
The increases are widespread across the country: Carlow (up 90%), Cork County (up 95%), Cork City (up 172%), Fingal (up 159%), South Dublin (up 88%), Kerry (up 79%), Meath (up 124%), Galway City (up 101%).
He stated ‘capital expenditure on social housing has borne the brunt of cuts in recent budgets and the perceived savings are questionable considering that demand for housing has continued to grow’. There have been cuts in funding of over 52% since 2009.
Mr McManus said “housing associations have the potential to provide new social housing under an innovative mixed-funding model”. This model combines limited capital funding with private finance, which represents a huge benefit for taxpayers and has the potential to deliver on housing needs as part of a more radical approach of social housing supports.
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For further information contact Donal McManus 01 6618334.
Notes for Editors
- The Irish Council for Social Housing is the National Federation of social housing organisations with over 300 housing associations affiliated nationwide.
- Housing associations now provide over 25,000 homes for families, elderly, homeless people and people with disabilities.
- The voluntary housing sector provides new tenancies to 3,000 people each year through new lets and re-lets.
