No rental homes available in Cork for families on housing assistance, Simon report finds

Not a single rental property in Cork is available to families on housing support, according to a stark new report

The Simon Communities of Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market report for June shows just 32 properties across 16 areas of the country were available to rent within the higher discretionary rate of Hap, a 22% decrease since March.

There is not a single property in Cork City and its suburbs that families on the housing assistance payment (Hap) can rent, as they are all too expensive.

The Simon Communities of Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market report for June shows just 32 properties across 16 areas of the country were available to rent within the higher discretionary rate of Hap, a 22% decrease since March.

A majority of these homes were in Dublin, with none at all in Cork Cty, Limerick city centre, Sligo town, Portlaoise, and Waterford city centre.

Furthermore, fewer than 1,000 properties were available to rent at any price, showing the dearth of properties available on the market even for those not relying on Hap to keep a roof over their heads.

The charity’s executive director Ber Grogan said these figures must act as a wake-up call for policymakers.

“Do they care that the rental sector continues to fail those reliant on Hap? Simon certainly cares,” she said. 

People entitled to housing support are being pushed further into homelessness and essentially, left behind. The rental market is failing those most in need.

Charities in this sector have long called for reform of the Hap system. It sees households sourcing private rented accommodation but being eligible for the support, whereby the local authority pays the landlord but the household pays a weekly rent contribution to the local authority.

Critics have said the limits in place for Hap have not kept pace with inflation. Those in receipt of it also are not eligible to remain on the social housing list for a more adequate, permanent home, as being housed under Hap means their “social housing need” is considered to have been met.

There is a higher rate of Hap for those experiencing homelessness, but the Simon Communities report found few options, even for those in receipt of ‘Homeless HAP’.

Included in the report is an account from Nathan, a Cork Simon service user.

“Most of the time you ring a place, it’s gone,” he said. "You get fed up of every day doing it, and then you just give up for a while — depressed out of me head.

You can’t get out of it [homelessness]. I don’t seem to see a way anyway. And it’s not for want of trying. A bed, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Basics. Oh, I’d love it. Come and go as you please. 

Hap limits increase depending on the size of the family. The report found there were no properties at all available to couples or one-parent households with one child at a standard rate.

There were just 10 properties available through the higher discretionary rates, all of them in Dublin.

Similarly, there was just one property available to a couple or one-parent household with two children on the standard rate, which was in the suburbs of Limerick city. Five were available on the discretionary rate, in Dublin, Dundalk and Kildare.

Ms Grogan added: “We urgently need accelerated delivery of social and affordable housing, meaningful reforms to Hap rates, and a targeted strategy to prevent homelessness.

“We must ensure that hope is restored for those people who are locked out of access to this accommodation option.”