Call for action on Galway homeless crisis

A chronic shortage of affordable rental accommodation in Galway is leading to families and individuals being forced into emergency housing or becoming homeless..

A survey carried out by local social services charity COPE Galway found that less than 5% of rental properties advertised in the city were within the maximum rent supplement levels set by the Department of Social Protection.

The group has called for ‘discretionary measures’ to be introduced by the Department to allow more flexibility on rent cap ceilings – or Galway will face a homelessness crisis on a similar scale to Dublin.

Jacquie Horan, CEO of COPE Galway said: “The very real impact of this is being felt by many families and individuals who are experiencing significant difficulties in finding affordable accommodation and as a consequence are remaining longer in homeless emergency accommodation that would otherwise be necessary.”

The survey found there were 54 households actively seeking independent accommodation in Galway City.

In the same week, only one property out of 24 one-beds advertised (on Daft.ie) was within the maximum rent supplement cap level of €475 per month for a single person.

Of 67 three-bed properties, just three were within the maximum rent cap level of €725 per month for a one or two parent family with two children.

The newly-published ‘Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness – May 2014 to December 2016’ sets out how the Government plans to address homelessness.

Amongst the recommendations are that people who are homeless will be given priority on social housing waiting lists.

“COPE Galway welcomes some specific recommendations of the plan such as the amendment of local authorities’ scheme of allocations for social housing so as to prioritise those in homeless situations.

“The role of rent supplement is also highlighted, with particular reference to an initiative in operation in Dublin which allows for the faster processing and access to rent supplement and more flexibility concerning deposits and rent cap ceilings where people who are long-term homeless are engaged with service providers.

“We strongly supports the immediate implementation of such measures at local level, which could have a very real impact, such as the exercising of discretionary powers by the Department of Social Protection to allow for the rent cap to be exceeded in the exceptional circumstance for someone who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, and the pre-approval of rent supplement in order that vulnerable families and individuals can compete in the private rented sector.

“These are measures which we consider to be vital in avoiding an escalation of homelessness in Galway to the crisis stage currently being experienced in Dublin,” said Ms Horan.