The Spring/Summer 2024 newsletter of the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) covers recent updates and events in the social housing sector. Key highlights include the Housing Commission Report, which outlines a future vision for housing in Ireland, recommending an increase in social and affordable housing stock to 20%. The report emphasizes the need for sustainable financing models, increased investment in training, and the pivotal role of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in housing delivery.
The newsletter highlights the sector’s delivery of almost 6,000 homes in 2023 and showcases developments and achievements by our AHB members over the past six months including further rollout of cost rental housing in Limerick, Laois and Kilkenny, highlighting new cost rental schemes from Circle VHA, Respond, Clúid, and Tuath in partnership with local authorities.
We discuss the AHB Strategic Forum’s workshops aimed at building a sector vision for the next decade, addressing funding requirements, and enhancing sector capacity. Additionally, AHBRA’s Sectoral Analysis 2023 is highlighted, noting the sector’s reliance on large AHBs, debt financing concerns, and the need for consolidation. The newsletter also reports on state progress in addressing domestic violence, homelessness trends, and housing activities overseas.