‘5,000 in direct provision can’tfindaccommodation’

THE State is seeking support to help thousands of direct provision residents into new accommodation.

It is estimated that around 5,000 of the country’s 17,000 people in direct provision centres can remain in Ireland but cannot find accommodation.

The International Protection Accommodation Service has issued a tender for all 26 counties, across four lots, seeking support from housing bodies or charities to help house people outside the International Protection system.

The tender states: ‘Persons with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish nationals.

‘However, they can experience barriers in accessing housing as they do not have knowledge of available accommodation in the areas where they wish to live; they may not have sufficient English language competency to complete applications for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or may not have transport to get to viewings of available accommodation.’

The tender says that it is looking for parties to assist people ‘with Status to find their own housing solutions outside of IPAS accommodation’ so that they may ‘live independently’ in the community.

‘This will include finding suitable accommodation, supporting Person(s) with Status to complete applications for Housing Assistance Payment and supporting them to move into this accommodation.’

There are 4,820 people in direct provision accommodation that no longer have to be, with a total of 17,647 in direct provision overall.

In 2022, up to November, an average of 340 people were granted status each month with an average of 61 getting accommodation.

The successful applicants will have to have a system where they can or already have established networks with landlords, estate agents and other housing provision options to source accommodation. Interpretation services must also be provided.

It is understood the State is struggling to get people who have received leave to stay in Ireland under the international protection system to be able to leave direct provision centres, due to the housing crisis.

The State is coming under severe pressure to house people who claim international protection.

Almost 70,000 Ukrainian refugees were taken in by the State last year, with around 15,000 people also claiming international protection, a large increase on previous comparable years.

The Integration Minister, Roderic O’Gorman last week said that in the first three weeks of the year, 870 people had claimed international protection in Ireland.

At those rates, Ireland would see an additional 15,000 people claim international protection in the country, similar to last year’s figures, but significantly up on the last comparable year in 2019, when around 3,000 people claimed international protection. There is concern in the Government that many people won’t leave direct provision centres because of fears they could end up homeless.

According to figures published last week, nearly 40% of homeless people are not Irish citizens, while 17% are non-Europeans.

As part of the tender issued by the Government, each caseworker will be expected to have an active caseload of between 35 and 40 households at a time.

These active cases are where someone who is ‘actively engaging in the process’ to progress into an independent housing solution outside of their previous IPAS accommodation.

Lucky Khambule, a spokesman for the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), said no one wanted to stay in direct provision when they were allowed to leave.

He said: ‘The reason why people cannot leave direct provision is the lack of housing and the second reason is they will be on HAP and that is not lucrative to prospective landlords. They view lots of houses but they do not get the green light from landlords.’

‘They view lots of houses’