Plight of older separated women and men over social housing

There is an urgent need for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to investigate and remedy the plight of older separated men and women with marital and relationship problems, particularly in their quest for social housing.

At the outset let me say that the problem may not be yours today, but it could be one day.

One example of many is where a man, having left the family home more than 20 years ago, went to England to work or else moved to alternative accommodation following a family dispute.

These men are now at retiring age, on a pension and cannot afford high rents. They don’t qualify for council housing as they are part-owners of a family home. They are not entitled to rent allowance because they are not on a housing list. A catch 22 situation.

Yes, there are options available to these men. They can take their spouse to court with a view to selling the family home, but if the spouse is now elderly, is this the route to take? Following the sale, would there be sufficient funds to buy two houses? I doubt it.

The other alternative would be for a man to transfer full ownership to his former wife, thereby freeing him to go on the council list. He is very much the loser in this situation.

I hope the minister can rectify this ruling in his new House Leasing Scheme so as to allow these men and women to go on a local authority housing list, thereby, perhaps, offering them some security in old age. As I said at the outset — it may not be your case today, but it could be one day.

Cllr Noel Collins

Midleton

Co Cork