People need housing, not a temporary roof over their heads

The Government must use the budget to ensure the delivery of social and affordable housing across all tenure types, writes Niamh Randall.

In 2008, when we held our first awareness raising ‘Simon Week’, we never thought that on our 10th anniversary there would be the highest numbers of men, women and children trapped in emergency accommodation since records began, now at over 8,000 people.

Instead of meeting the target to end long term homelessness and rough sleeping by 2010, not only has this target disappeared from view, the problem has worsened considerably.

From 2008 to 2016, the total number of people on the social housing waiting list increased by 62% and those on the list defined as homeless increased by 270%, a fourfold increase.

People are being left behind; far too many people. We work with them every day.

Many have complex health needs, others are hidden from the public’s view, falling through the cracks because they are not prioritised.

We are in real danger of creating lost generations — second and third generations of people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity who are being left behind.

This year, as part of Simon Week 2017, over 15,000 people signed our No One Left Behind petition demanding that the Government build more social and affordable housing.

It is clear people care deeply about the injustice and indignity of homelessness and housing instability, and the long-lasting impact on the lives of individuals, families and children. They want urgent action in Budget 2018.

The ideology underpinning the housing system is one of over reliance on the private market for the delivery of housing for all tenure types. Increased private sector supply will not deliver the affordable housing and tenure mix needed in the short to medium term.

In addition to the over 8,000 people living their lives in emergency accommodation, there are thousands more people experiencing housing instability and living on the edge of homelessness.

More than 90,000 households are on the social housing waiting list and there is enormous pressure within the private rented sector. There is disparity between what the Government says it is doing and what is happening on the ground.

We hear claims of economic recovery and green shoots, but what we at the Simon Communities around the country are working with is a deprivation rate that has increased by 12% since 2008, a social housing budget that has decreased by 59% and social housing builds that are down by 79%.

People need action, not short-term solutions. They need housing, not a temporary roof over their heads.

The Government must take decisive action on housing and homelessness in Budget 2018. Access to affordable, safe and secure housing is critical.

The scale and speed of delivery can significantly increase through working with local authorities and approved housing bodies — tripling of direct capital expenditure to €1bn will allow for the building of 5,000 additional social housing units within the next 16 months, with a longer-term commitment of 10,000 units per annum.

The Capital Assistance Scheme should be protected as a key mechanism for the delivery of social housing particularly for people who are homeless.

The Rapid Build housing model must be extended to all areas and implemented quickly. Access to finance through the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund must be conditional on the provision of affordable housing in the any resulting residential developments.

Empty homes are the low hanging fruit and we would like to see a progressive vacant homes tax and sufficient incentives to encourage homeowners to sell, rent or lease their empty homes.

Prevention is key to ensuring that we stem the flow of people into homelessness and keep people in the homes they have.

We can achieve this by addressing the root causes of homelessness, including the adequacy of state housing benefits, enhancing security of tenure and introducing full rent certainty for those renting, as well as addressing distressed mortgages, especially buy-to-lets.

Many of the people the Simon Communities work with have complex health needs and we know the longer people are homeless, the greater the impact on their health and wellbeing.

Housing Support worker, Martin, started his day making sure an empty flat is in order for its new tenant who has a history of homelessness. pic.twitter.com/MWSjd6hVRm

— Cork Simon Community (@Cork_Simon) October 4, 2017

Budget 2018 must provide resources to establish a National Housing First programme with published tenancy targets for its national roll out.

Adequate funding across relevant government departments is required to ensure the necessary wraparound support — critical departments include the departments of Health/HSE, Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and crucially, Finance.

For nearly 50 years the Simon Communities have maintained a proud tradition of providing much needed services for thousands of people experiencing the trauma and stress of homelessness and campaigning to ensure the State recognises this injustice by responding appropriately with more effective policies and legislation.

We hope that the Government hears what we and the thousands of people who are standing with us are saying.

It is not fair or sustainable to keep offering people short-term solutions with little attention paid to their longer-term needs.

The Government must use Budget 2018 as the opportunity to ensure the delivery of social and affordable housing across all tenure types within sustainable communities nationwide so that no one is left behind.

Niamh Randall is national spokesperson for the Simon Communities.