More Social and Affordable housing needed now

Labour spokesperson on Housing, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has said that today’s report from the Simon Communities, which found that just 7 per cent of the estimated 3,150 properties available to rent fall within HAP limits, again highlights the critical need to build more social and affordable homes for rent and purchase.

Deputy O’Sullivan commented:

“This report shows once again just how critical it is for the State to ramp up the building of social and affordable housing for rent as well as purchase.

“The level of supply has fallen way below what is needed in the current market, the results of which we are seeing through the consistent trend of rising rents that are pushing more people into homelessness, while rendering it virtually impossible for many others to pay rent and save for a deposit at the same time.

“With only about 9,500 new builds in 2017, the State has to pick up the slack from where the private sector has failed in terms of building enough homes to meet the demand.

“Labour proposes merging NAMA and the Housing Finance Agency into one body tasked with building social and affordable homes; the need for supply cannot be overstated.

“With 93% of all properties that are currently available to rent coming in above the HAP limits, the 9,000 or so adults and children in emergency accommodation will find it really difficult to ever move into a privately rented home.

“The Government can’t wait for the statistics to get worse- action is needed now.”