Rules cause havoc for poor after rent help
The report, commissioned on behalf of CentreCare, a project of Crosscare, and the City Centre Dublin Citizens Information Service, shows stricter conditions for getting rent supplements could increase homelessness throughout the country, despite Government efforts to deal with the scourge.
In particular, the report points to the suffering generated by the new six-month rule, in operation since January, under which applicants must prove a six-month history of renting before being eligible for rent allowance.
“We are very worried that the safety net for vulnerable people is gone,” said Deirdre Casey, Development Manager of the CCDCIS. “There is a danger that the number of homeless could increase as a result of this rule.”
However, in response to the survey, Social and Family Minister Mary Coughlan said there had been no reported case of homelessness as a result of the changes introduced in last December’s budget.
The minister said a report published last week by the Social Partners Group indicated no one had been made homeless by the measures.
“The Social Partners group concluded that the new measures are not having any significant adverse impacts,” she said.
Nevertheless, the Crosscare report points to severe hardship as a result of the measures. The survey involved 51 questionnaires and a further 40 case studies conducted in a period from March 1 to the end of May.
“We found some people in very difficult situations because of changes,” said Ms Casey.
She said that, despite the assertion by the minister that community welfare officers were happy with the new rules, many who administered the programme felt their discretion had been removed.
“Their representatives told us that it had created a huge layer of bureaucracy, with officers being required to refer applications to their supervisors and provide vast documentary evidence.”
Ms Casey highlighted bizarre examples caused by the new requirements.
“One Traveller family living in a derelict trailer who got private accommodation were told they could not get the rent supplement because they were not in housing need, yet they had been on a local authority waiting list for 18 months.”
She said some health boards had also set maximum limits to housing rents, and this was also proving difficult.
“We have found many people still paying higher rents to landlords because they cannot get accommodation within acceptable limits. They are borrowing from loan sharks and living below the poverty line.
“We came across one couple with a child on 141-a-week allowance.
The rent was, in fact, 200 and the landlord signed the form to reflect the lower amount. They are now paying 59 out of their social welfare allowance, putting them below the poverty line.”
Another new rule demanding applicants prove habitual residence is also causing difficulty.
Ms Coughlan, noting the report, said: “However none of its recommendations call for the reversal of the measures which prompted the report.”
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