As thousands of migrants flood into Ireland, report finds lowest number of rental properties available since records began – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

As thousands of migrants flood into Ireland, report finds lowest number of rental properties available since records began




Simon Wayne Stanley, communications and community policy manager in Ireland, said turning to a homeless service is a “enormous trauma” for a family.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Stanley said: “I would stand over the quality of the Simon Community services around the country, but with the best will in the world, with the best very best staff in the world and the very best circumstances, crossing the threshold of a homeless service holding your child’s hands is an enormous trauma for any family and it’s a trauma for the children and we have to prevent that.” Reports RTE.

He said a moratorium on evictions would “provide breathing space”.

“There’s a Simon Homeless Prevention Bill, which received cross-party support, including Government support when it was brought into the Dail last September” reports RTE.

“Some of the provisions of that had been worked on but we need to see that fully implemented,” reported RTE.

The Locked out of the Market report highlights the story of John, Mary and their three children, who were living in private rental accommodation when they received an eviction notice following the death of the landlord and the sale of the house belonging to other family members.

John and Mary’s family had been living there for three years after living in emergency accommodation – a B&B – for nine months.

For six months they searched for a property and had eight visits during which they were told they had too many children to have a three-bed house.

They had been approved for the HAP but were told the property was gone when they mentioned the HAP or received no communication.

Mary’s lack of professional credentials – even though she was caring for her youngest son with Down syndrome – was another reason for rejection.

Despite saving money to get a property without an IPA, the family didn’t get a place.

Simon’s community says their story demonstrates the “chronic” lack of affordable housing in the private rental sector.

Another case study featured in the report highlights the shortage of affordable properties and the impact of rising rents.

Liam is a single man who stays at a homeless emergency shelter in the Simon Community and has been approved by HAP for the past two years.

He tried to get out of the homeless by trying to rent in the private rental sector.

He receives a disability allowance, which pays him 208 euros per week, but one-bedroom accommodation costs between 1,300 and 1,600 euros.

HAP would cover around 600 euros, which means that Liam cannot afford the available properties, other than electricity and food.

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