One of the county’s leading homeless agencies Focus Ireland has urged the government to create more social housing by using NAMA asset’s to tackle the homeless crisis.
The call comes after a number of the country’s leading homeless agencies attended a meeting in the Customs House recently. Although Mike Allen Director of Advocacy at Focus Ireland has welcomed the government’s recent short-term proposals to tackle the issue, Mr Allen has however questioned why NAMA is scheduled to build 20,000 homes, with 90% being sold privately.
Mr Allen said: “The Minister has said he is absolutely committed to delivering more social housing, but he also made it clear that local housing authorities are not in a position to build those units. NAMA is able to build those units.” “Instead of being used to deliver social housing, (NAMA) is being used to deliver private housing to be sold to owner-occupiers. The private sector needs to deliver for owner-occupiers. The State sector, which includes NAMA, should be used to deliver the social housing that we desperately need for the families currently facing homelessness.”