Build our way out of housing crisis
■ Readers, have you ever been homeless for one night – or maybe you are homeless now? If you are, you have my deepest sympathy.
CSO figures indicate that in last year’s Census, a total of 183,000 vacant residential properties were identified across the State, some 30,000 of which were in Dublin. There are more than 5,000 vacant dwellings in Clare.
Figures from Focus Ireland show there were 8,270 people homeless in the week of August 21 to 27, 2017, across Ireland. This includes adults and children with their families, 3,000 were children. In Limerick recently, a baby was born to a homeless family. Shock, horror and anger do not begin to describe how any of these individuals feel. For me, homelessness would be my worst nightmare.
I am a renter all my adult life. Thankfully, in the last 20 years I got a local authority house and stabilised my situation. Prior to this, I lived in more than 15 rented accommodations. A few landlords were difficult, while accommodation standards were poor.
Currently, in the estate where I live, there are two houses of quality accommodation which are empty. This is only one example of the number of houses that are boarded-up.
Councillors have been relatively inactive in this housing crisis. I sit on a special policy committee on housing, as a community representative, with a number of councillors. This committee is managed by the county council. I witness missed opportunities by councillors to resolve the housing crisis in Clare. Four years ago, the homeless figure was 14 people. In November 2017, it was 47. Unscrupulous landlords, heavy-handed banks, the loss of adequate pay, and lawyers who generate fear are some of the reasons which contribute to homelessness.
The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland strategy shows new figures. Data from housing policy analyst Mel Reynolds shows the 31 local authorities owning about 700 sites, or 1,211 hectares of land,
which is undeveloped and zoned for residential development. On these lands, some 37,950 dwellings could be built. Time for councillors to roll up their sleeves.
Dermot Hayes Ennis, Co Clare