New regulations to impact on how applicants are assessed for social housing

The Irish Council for Social Housing, the national federation for voluntary housing associations, has called on housing authorities to make sure potential applicants and existing tenants are made aware of the changes in the regulations for assessment for social housing.

Mr Donal McManus, Executive Director, ICSH stated “It is crucial that the new process is well publicised and applicants are made aware of the new process to prevent people in genuine housing need from getting lost in the move from the old to the new system”.

From 1st April housing authorities will have to undertake an assessment of applicants twice – the first to determine whether an applicant has a social housing need and will be included on the waiting list and the second is immediately prior to the allocation of social housing.

Mr McManus stated, “the ICSH welcomes the progress that has been made on special needs issues in the new regulations. In the past, both the elderly and people with disabilities were overlooked within the assessment process and a key test will be to see if this new system ensures that these groups are properly represented and assessed correctly”.

Under the old system, the only option that was promoted for people on waiting lists was to avail of local authority housing. Mr McManus explained that “the new system now promotes that being accepted onto a housing authority waiting list now acts also as a ‘gateway’ for applicants to be considered for range of social housing options including voluntary housing”.

For some time the ICSH has been seeking improvements in the assessment process and greater recognition of people with special needs.

ENDS/

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.
• Eligibility will be addressed on a household income according to maximum income thresholds
• The voluntary housing sector provides new tenancies to 3,000 people each year through new lets and re-lets.
• The Irish Council for Social Housing is a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership.