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Minister Alan Kelly today announced the first instalment in his promised investment of €3.8bn over six years to alleviate the social housing crisis accross the county. This initial investment caters for the provision of new build schemes.

The social housing crisis is well documented and the escalating needs of those in mortgage arrears is set to culminate in an explosion of demand for social housing by 2017. It is currently reported that up to 100,000 households are on local authority housing lists.

One of the biggest difficulties we encounter when helping people who enter homelessness is the fact that many of our services are already at capacity. In 2013, 69% of people presenting to the Thurles service were turned away and again in 2014 a further 69% seeking assistance failed to enter the service due to capacity issues. This was no coincidence and it reflects the consistency of demand for homeless service in the region and the lack of available “move-on” accomodation. The Thurles service provides a six month programme where people have the opportunity to address issues that have led to their homelessness. It is intended that they would move on to alternate accomodation at the end of their stay.. However, such accomodation does not exist and inevitably our residents remain with us well beyond the 6 month term to the detriminent of others seeking assistance. It is therefore disappointing to note in today’s announcement that only 3 units of social housing will be provided in Thurles as part of today’s initiative.

It is not expected that one initiative is going to resolve all issues but similar scenarios can be drawn for all of the other areas in which we operate in Limerick, Tipperary, Kerry, Dublin, Cork and Clare.

The minister has indicated that today’s announcement is the first in a series of similar initiatives that will be forthcoming in the short-term. We can expect positive steps to re-develop existing accomodation that has remained closed in recent times.

Single-bed units of accomodation are a priority in future announcements. Many people in homelessness require lone-living facilities for a multitude of reasons. It is feared that the provision of three, four and five bedroomed homes will cast the net over the greater number of people whilst marginalising single persons even further.

NOVAS warmly welcome today’s announcement and see it as a positive first step in delivering on the €3.8bn package announced recently. We are encouraged by the geographical spread of the investment nationwide and we look forward to further imminent announcements and hope that disparate needs are addressed within the scope of future investment.

To read more about today’s announcement CLICK HERE.