Charity hits out at social housing provision
The need for social housing is as bad as four decades ago with numbers on waiting lists set to jump in the coming months, it was claimed today.
The country’s largest housing charity maintained those in poverty are being forgotten during the recession.
Respond! said the recent cut of almost €300m euro in social housing funding will have a detrimental effect on the most vulnerable members of society.
Spokesman John Hannigan claimed that after 20 years of unprecedented growth, the social housing need is the same as 45 years ago.
“In 1964, social housing need in Ireland was 60,000 families,” said Mr Hannigan, ahead of the organisation’s national conference in Co Kildare.
“We are now at a similar level and will surpass it in the coming months with unemployment set to increase by almost 300,000 by the end of 2010.”
Respond! said during the boom years of the Celtic Tiger social housing accounted for just 5% of new builds – compared to 30% of all housing during the recessionary 1980s.
“It seems unbelievable that local authority housing waiting lists grew by 30% to 56,000 families during this period,” continued Mr Hannigan.
“Now is the time to increase funding for social housing; prices are lower, tenders are more competitive and there is a huge need for employment in the construction sector.”
Respond!, which has constructed more than 4,500 homes in Ireland, claims it could could provide 1,000 additional homes in the coming year if funding were made available.
It’s conference will examine how Government needs to change its stance.
Key speaker Noeline Blackwell, of Flac (Free Legal Advice Centre), said it is the most vulnerable that are likely to suffer during the recession.
“The apparent equality of the law turns out – yet again – to favour those who are better resourced and near the seats of power and influence,” said Ms Blackwell.
“This is particularly evident in the area of housing. This is why Flac now hopes that the current economic downturn will lead to a more realistic assessment of the harm that has resulted to vulnerable sectors of society from a failure of financial consumer protection.”
