THREEFOLD INCREASE IN COUNCIL’S SPEND ON B&BS FOR HOMELESS
THE cost of providing emergency accommodation to those facing homelessness in the county has skyrocketed in the past year, new figures show. Wexford County Council is expected to spend three times as much on emergency B&B accommodation in 2016 as it did the previous year.
Figures released to Cllr Malcolm Byrne last week showed that to the end of November, Wexford County Council had spent €288,166 on B&B accommodation. ‘ The current estimate is that we will spend €320,000 for B&B in 2016,’ he said. ‘Expenditure on B&B in 2015 was €109,623.95.’
He said he has raised the issue of the homelessness challenge in Co Wexford for several years. ‘It is essential that tackling this issue continues to be prioritised,’ he contended. ‘We all have an obligation to ensure that we can put a more permanent roof over the heads of those without a home.’
‘Of particular concern is that we are on course to spend three times as much on B&Bs this year to deal with homelessness as we did in 2015,’ he added.
The figures also show that as of the end of November 2016, there were 492 homeless cases in Co Wexford, compared to 538 at the end of December 2015. ‘ This illustrates that we are still responding to high numbers of homeless cases this year,’ he said.
There were 409 presentations directly to Wexford County Council; 87 to Oznam House; 25 to the Women’s Refuge; and 109 people were accommodated in Wexford County Council Emergency B&B or supported accommodation. ‘In previous years, homeless cases were supported by emergency service providers, but as you can see, Wexford County Council is now the main homeless service intervention,’ said Malcolm.
‘ The overall average stay in B&B this year has been 39 days, up from 26 days in 2015, due to pressure on the private rented market, although not reaching Dublin levels,’ he added.
The figures also show that the longest stay in a B&B was 204 nights; the shortest stay was one night; 33 people stayed in a B&B for one week or less; and 32 people stayed between one and four weeks.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people with a long-term housing need. It is administered by local authorities and will eventually replace long-term Rent Supplement. You must be on the local authority’s housing list (which means that you qualify for social housing support) to be eligible for HAP.
HAP is being introduced in phases. From March 2017 the final phase will bring it fully into operation in the last three local authority areas – all in Dublin.
Under the HAP scheme, you find your own private rented accommodation. Although the local authority administers HAP, you will not be a local authority tenant. The rental agreement will be between yourself and the landlord. This means that you will have certain rights and obligations, as will your landlord.
The rent must be within the HAP rent limits, which are based on your household size and the rental market in your area. Additional flexibility is provided where a household cannot find suitable accommodation within the HAP rent limits. The Homeless HAP Pilot in Dublin offers further flexibility for homeless people.
The local authority will pay your landlord directly and you will pay a differential rent to the local authority. This means that the amount of rent is based on your income and your ability to pay. If you are getting a social welfare payment at a post office, you must pay the local authority through the Household Budget Scheme.
If you take up a job or increase your working hours, you will still be eligible for HAP, provided that you meet the other conditions of the scheme.
People who are on the housing list and currently getting Rent Supplement will be transferred to HAP on a phased basis. If you are on the housing list, living in a HAP area and getting Rent Supplement, you can now apply for HAP.
Detailed booklets and other information about HAP are available on housing.gov.ie. What are my consumer rights when I buy something in the sales? Can I return sales items?
Your consumer rights during a sale are exactly the same as at any other time of the year. Your rights do not change just because you bought the item in a sale.
Goods should be of merchantable quality, fit for their intended purpose and as described. If they are not, you are entitled to a repair, a replacement or a refund.
If there is a fault with goods that you bought at full price and are now on sale at a reduced price, you are entitled to a refund of the full price (if the shop is willing to offer a refund).
Shop notices such as “No Refunds” or “No Exchanges” do not limit your rights, if you have a complaint about faulty items.
However, you are not entitled to a refund because you change your mind about something you have bought in a shop, whether this is during the sales or at any other time of the year. Many shops do allow you to exchange goods that you have had second thoughts about, but this is at their discretion. It is a good idea to check the shop’s refund policy before buying anything.
You should always keep your receipts as proof of purchase and the price paid. This does not necessarily have to be the shop receipt. You could show your credit or debit card statement if you used one or any other documentation that proves it was purchased.
For more information, visit the website of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at consumerhelp.ie.