Homelessness crisis - Multiple refusals for social houses

THERE is something bizarre about the fact that 2,000 offers of social housing were rejected by applicants last year.

Considering our growing homelessness crisis, it would be assumed that the offer of a home, even if it was not in an ideal location, would be taken up by anyone seeking one.

But that is not the case. As our report today reveals, some local authorities received multiple refusals by applicants for reasons as varied as barking dogs, proximity to a nightclub, and distance from schools.

The decision by some councils to suspend an application after multiple refusals seems a sensible one, yet it has been attacked by homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry as “unreasonable coercion”.

Fr McVerry has done huge work over many years in highlighting the plight of the homeless and must be commended for that, but to view such a policy as a form of coercion is, in itself, unreasonable.

What is most unreasonable of all is that our homelessness and housing problems are getting worse while the coalition partners fail to agree on measures to end them.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly’s plan to build 500 prefabricated homes is a good start — but only that.

Without a comprehensive, all-embracing policy, things will only get worse. Some of the measures needed may be unpalatable, but doing little or nothing is not an option.