One in ten offered Council units in 2016
JUST over one in ten people in need of Council housing have been offered a tenancy by Sligo County Council so far this year.
According to the Council’s Budget report, there are currently 1,050 households on the Council housing waiting list.
Of these, 144 households are receiving Housing Assistance Payments ( HAP) and a further 99 are approved for a transfer to alternative accommodation with the Council.
This leaves a net housing need of 807.
As of October 2016, 89 offers of homes have been issued this year.
The HAP Scheme involves the Council paying monthly rent to private landlords on behalf of tenants, who can continue to receive the support if they get a full- time job.
To date 145 such tenancies have been set up.
Sligo County Council Director of Services Bartley Gavin also told the meeting that Sligo was expected to provide accommodation for in the region of 20 migrant families as part of the Government’s commitment to accepting 4,000 migrants.
Apart from providing homes, the Council will manage the relocation and resettlement of the migrant families.
This will entail coordinating and managing the involvement of other public service providers such as education and health services.
Responding Cllr Martin Baker said: “We have to look after our own as well. That’s very important. A lot of people have been on the list for a long time. Housing is so scarce, the lists do need to be respected.”
Just over half a million euro has been provided in the budget to maintain existing Council houses. However Mr Gavin ad- mitted that this was not enough. As a result, priority will only be given to repair requests that pose a health or safety risk to the tenant and requests from older people and those with special needs.
Cllr Sean MacManus said: “That leads me to worry about what will happen to the housing stock we do have. It’s our responsibility to do a fair proportion of the repairs.”
“It could fall into a state of disrepair. Is there a case to be made for further funding from the Department?” he asked.
Both he and Cllr Baker paid tribute to the Housing staff.