Homelessness on the rise

jimmycrackcorm

mike_2009 wrote:

Do what they should have done in 2008/2009 and borrow heavily to fund public investment in housing and infrastructure to cushion the country from the worst of the recession. They'd have had to stand up to the EU however as they would be in breach of EU rules even though France and Germany have breached them before and been ignored/overlooked.

People have such short memories. The idea that we could have borrowed just after the financial crash and when we were leading up to having to beg the IMF for help is laughable.

Hitman3000 wrote:

Is it unreasonable to expect the well paid members of government to deal with the issue seeing as they have the power and resources to do so instead of constantly seeking to blame the opposition for the government's failings?

The government can do very little when lefty controlled councils such as SDCC consider obtuse planning rules more important than making sure 40 families remain housed in larkfield near liffey valley.

Topgear on Dave

emo72 wrote: »

this is what i cant understand. why cant they borrow? it is an emergency now. no problem borrowing billions when its to be paid to german banks.

Im not even entirely sure its funding that is the whole problem.

There are new estates of houses going up around me here in Kildare but it is taking years to get planning, locals objecting, build length, water and sewage supplied. It all takes years.

Hitman3000

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

The government can do very little when lefty controlled councils such as SDCC consider obtuse planning rules more important than making sure 40 families remain housed in larkfield near liffey valley.

Didn't Leo object to a housing development in his constituency?

Topgear on Dave

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Didn't Leo object to a housing development in his constituency?

Leo is a Fine Gaeler you know, regularly condemned on here for their behaviour. Those objections are what his electorate want.

Is it too much to expect better from left controlled councils? :rolleyes: Hypocrites

Hitman3000

Topgear on Dave wrote:

Is it too much to expect better from left controlled councils? Hypocrites

Elected councillors don't have the strangle hold they once had and claiming they have is a convient buck passing exercise. Legislation required to fast track social and affordable housing could easily be put to the Dail if the will exists. What idiot TD or party would object?

antoinolachtnai

What does ‘fast track social housing’ really mean? And what would the unintended consequences be?

I think there should be a straightforward grant payment for every home completed and occupied before a certain date. That would get things moving in all segments of the market.

The Student

Graces7 wrote: »

disagree. The landlords needed standing up to. Not anti landlord, but pro tenant

So if I own a property and want it for a family member can I use my property and not have the likes of Threshold and Mr Boyd Barrett advising tenants to over hold.

Graham

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

I think there should be a straightforward grant payment for every home completed and occupied before a certain date. That would get things moving in all segments of the market.

I'd prefer to see something to stimulate supply and/or reduce costs than another demand generator.

Maybe something to increase the provision of long-term rental accommodation. Maybe tax breaks for new build-to-rent or pension backed longterm-lettings with appropriate incentives.

Topgear on Dave

Graham wrote: »

Maybe something to increase the provision of long-term rental accommodation. Maybe tax breaks for new build-to-rent or pension backed longterm-lettings with appropriate incentives.

AHH HERE.... The government would be condemned from a height for encouraging landlording and tax evasion etc :pac:

But yes, I agree.

antoinolachtnai

Graham wrote: »

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

I think there should be a straightforward grant payment for every home completed and occupied before a certain date. That would get things moving in all segments of the market.

I'd prefer to see something to stimulate supply and/or reduce costs than another demand generator.

Maybe something to increase the provision of long-term rental accommodation. Maybe tax breaks for new build-to-rent or pension backed longterm-lettings with appropriate incentives.

Well that would be a supply generator. They would make it more attractive to provide supply.

Tax breaks are just a different form of completion grant (structured as a loan the government pays off over a number of years). But tax breaks are not attractive to pensions or local authorities (because they by and large do not pay tax).

utmbuilder

Idiots will try control rtb, tribunal notices now to slow down the flow of evictions wait and see

Slydice

The March figures have been released:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report_-_march_2018.pdf

I've updated the two charts based on the totals they give.

Homelessness (Adults)


Family Homelessness


The latest report does not have commentary where previous reports did. They used to include:

The long term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes

or:

The root cause of increased homelessness is the supply shortage across the housing sector, which in turn is a result of the recent economic collapse and the associated damage to the construction sector. Accordingly the long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes.

Coverage of this report:
9,681 sought emergency accommodation in March
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0328/950712-homeless/

The current total number of homeless people is recorded as 9,681, which is down from 9,807 in February.

In Dublin, the number of homeless families has remained the same at 1,329.

'Categorisation error' stops homeless figures hitting 10,000 for first time
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/categorisation-error-stops-homeless-figures-hitting-10000-for-first-time-840082.html

There were 9,681 people without a home in March - 3,646 of those were children.

and

"Some but not all of these individuals have been removed from the total numbers, but work continues with Local Authorities to gauge the total extent of the issue."

If the reclassification had not taken place, the numbers in emergency accommodation would have passed 10,000 for the first time.

Fianna Fáil says the Housing Minister cannot brush figures on homelessness under the carpet.

"The Government cannot bury its head in the sand over this crisis and cannot be allowed to hide the figures," said the party's Housing Spokesperson, Darragh O’Brien.

"Should Ireland ever get to grips with the crisis, transparency and full accountability are imperative."

Anthony Flynn from Inner City Helping Homeless says local authorities are being blamed for causing confusion.

What we're seeing now is a whole grouping of people haven't been included in the figures on the previous month, which indicates that there is a lower amount of people in homeless service.

"The Minister is blaming the council, people are blaming the Minister," he said.

"The Minister needs to come up and needs to be out straight with how many people we actually have in homeless services and an independent review and audit of homeless services is required immediately."

Flynn says the Housing Minister is not doing his job.

Tweets:
https://twitter.com/FocusIreland/status/990992923901747200
https://twitter.com/SVP_Ireland/status/991009325777907712


Other recent media on homelessness and supply shortage in Ireland:
Homelessness charity disputes latest rough sleeper numbers calling them a 'sugarcoating exercise'
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/homelessness-charity-disputes-latest-rough-sleeper-numbers-calling-them-a-sugarcoating-exercise-838309.html

"Recent storms have shown us an actual increase in numbers as many who choose to sleep in areas that were unknown to outreach teams surfaced, these are individuals that are not being counted within the overall figure as the areas they are in are not covered by the DRHE teams.

Warnings as house prices surge 13%
https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/warnings-as-house-prices-surge-13-469443.html

The latest CSO figures coincided with the release of three Government reports on the delivery of more houses.

The Housing Agency’s Comparison of Residential Construction Costs in Ireland to other European Countries shows that while Ireland has comparable construction costs for residential buildings with Britain, Germany, and France, costs are 18% less in the Netherlands.

A second report showed that the new 2018 apartment planning guidelines will reduce construction costs on a like-for-like basis versus the 2015 apartment planning guidelines by 3% to 15%, depending on the nature of the apartment development.

The lengthiest report, Review of Delivery Costs and Viability for Affordable Residential Developments, highlighted a string of issues, from basement car parking adding cost to urban apartment developments, to high rise development costing more to deliver.

It also said that there is a dramatic gap between supply and demand for land, but that Vat reductions would only increase land prices.

Generation rent locked out of home ownership
Latest rental proposals do little to address fundamental problems for tenants
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/generation-rent-locked-out-of-home-ownership-1.3464772

House price rises, queues, and unaffordable rents. It’s another bubble in Irish housing. But this is different from 2008. The Irish housing system has undergone a structural “shock” in the last decade. From homelessness and mortgage arrears to the emergence of a “generation rent” that is locked out of home ownership.

Unfortunately, Government policies are worsening the crisis. Rather than providing an additional supply of affordable housing the social housing strategy is inadequate. It is too heavily reliant on the private rental and construction sector.

and

However, such policies are not increasing supply. Private developers hold monopoly positions and are hoarding land while waiting for prices to rise before building. And when they do build, “market forces” dictate that the new supply will be expensive homes for sale or expensive rentals for investor landlords.

Students will become homeless if accommodation rent hikes go ahead, DCU students warn
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/students-will-become-homeless-if-accommodation-rent-hikes-go-ahead-dcu-students-warn-837714.html

They are calling on the Government to introduce rent caps for student accommodation to stop further increases.

Podge Henry Vice President for Welfare and Equality with DCU Students' Union says students are being cashed out of their education.

He said: "I know students who are working full-time jobs and trying to do a full-time degree as well, they are finding it stressful and difficult as it is paying this year's rent.

"Imagine what it is going to be like next year when they won't be able to afford to.

emo72

good post^^^ nothing more to add.

The_Conductor

In short- the numbers are down by about 600- because certain categories of people who 100% definitely were not homeless- were included in the figures- and the Minister and the Local Authorities are hurling blame at each other for the cock-up. If the 600 odd people were included- the figures would have breached 10,000 for the first time ever.

In related news- the number of 'rough-sleepers' has jumped nearly 25%- as the people who count the roughsleepers have copped that not all the rough sleepers are in Dublin city centre (7 counted in Ranelagh, 4 in Rathmines- and various others in places that they never thought to check before).

Our number of rough sleepers is worse than thought. Our number of 'homeless' and our definition of 'homeless' are falling and in serious need of a good definition- as it looks like everyone has their own definition and the figures that have been sent to the Department are just plain wrong.

Lots of very good links there Slydice- keep up the good work!

Wanderer78

The_Conductor wrote:

In short- the numbers are down by about 600- because certain categories of people who 100% definitely were not homeless- were included in the figures- and the Minister and the Local Authorities are hurling blame at each other for the cock-up. If the 600 odd people were included- the figures would have breached 10,000 for the first time ever.

All this debating of numbers and definitions is just ridiculous, we still haven't accepted something fundamental is failing our housing systems, of course no matter what systems we use to measure these metics, errors will occur and when there's such a big problem, figures can and do become somewhat exaggerated.

DubCount

Wanderer78 wrote: »

All this debating of numbers and definitions is just ridiculous, we still haven't accepted something fundamental is failing our housing systems, of course no matter what systems we use to measure these metics, errors will occur and when there's such a big problem, figures can and do become somewhat exaggerated.

Something fundamental is failing our housing system - Supply. Supply of housing generally, and supply of long term rental accommodation particularly. That does not mean the numbers are meaningless. These numbers drive the agenda. +100 or -100 may not change the dial on fixing the problem, but it changes the media comment and the politician responses.

Wanderer78

DubCount wrote:

Something fundamental is failing our housing system - Supply. Supply of housing generally, and supply of long term rental accommodation particularly. That does not mean the numbers are meaningless. These numbers drive the agenda. +100 or -100 may not change the dial on fixing the problem, but it changes the media comment and the politician responses.

We have not accepted that at the heart of this is a construct we call 'the market', in which is truly unable to provide us with all our needs, including housing, yes the numbers have meaning, and of course can sway thinking, but you are indeed correct, one of the main issues is indeed supply, but this has been known for years, and very little has changed, and probably will not for the foreseeable future.

salonfire

Wanderer78 wrote: »

We have not accepted that at the heart of this is a construct we call 'the market', in which is truly unable to provide us with all our needs, including housing, yes the numbers have meaning, and of course can sway thinking, but you are indeed correct, one of the main issues is indeed supply, but this has been known for years, and very little has changed, and probably will not for the foreseeable future.

So who has been building the homes millions of people across Ireland live in?

Slydice

The April figures have been released:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report_-_april_2018_0.pdf

I've updated the two charts based on the totals they give.

Homelessness (Adults)


Family Homelessness


The latest report does not have commentary where previous reports did. They used to include:

The long term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes

or:

The root cause of increased homelessness is the supply shortage across the housing sector, which in turn is a result of the recent economic collapse and the associated damage to the construction sector. Accordingly the long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes.

Coverage of this report:
Number of people in homeless accommodation down slightly
Department of Housing figure down 1% from March to April, but up 20% on April 2017
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/number-of-people-in-homeless-accommodation-down-slightly-1.3514192

The number of people in homeless accommodation has fallen slightly, from 6,035 in March to 5,963 in April, according to latest figures from the Department of Housing.

However, the figures represent a 19.9 per cent increase on the April 2017 figure of 4,972. They also come amid ongoing controversy over the removal of 578 people from the March figures compared with the February figures, under a reclassification exercise by the department.

There were also warnings on Wednesday from a number of charities that as many as 20,000 people were living in “hidden homelessness” – in other words, without their own homes and living in overcrowded conditions with families or friends.

More than 9,600 people in emergency accommodation last month
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0530/966985-social-housing/

Niamh Randall, Spokesperson for the Simon Communities said that it is deeply worrying to see so many people becoming trapped in emergency accommodation

"This is no way for people and families to live characterised by daily stress, trauma and uncertainty and impacting on health and well-being. These figures don't include rough sleepers or those in squats, women and children in refuges, or people who are 'hidden homeless'; those staying with family or friends as they have nowhere else to go, "she said.

Tweets:
https://twitter.com/MyNameCampaign/status/1001900346619367424
https://twitter.com/ICHHDUBLIN/status/1001881885923074049

Tweets on hidden homeless:
https://twitter.com/Barnardos_IRL/status/1001914391904825344
https://twitter.com/aoibhneas_org/status/1001823106720260097
https://twitter.com/FocusIreland/status/1001825828618096642
https://twitter.com/SVP_Ireland/status/1001770452417679360
https://twitter.com/SimonCommunity/status/1001908806178295809


Other recent media on homelessness and supply shortage in Ireland:
Calls for constitutional right to housing to tackle homeless crisis
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/calls-for-constitutional-right-to-housing-to-tackle-homeless-crisis-845528.html

The private market has driven house prices to extraordinary levels we are now unable to keep up with demand.

House prices 12.7% higher than last year and 75% higher than 2013 prices
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/house-prices-127-higher-than-last-year-and-75-higher-than-2013-prices-841793.html

Nationally, prices are 21.6% lower than their peak in 2007 but are 75% higher than their lowest point in 2013.

Dublin residential property prices have increased 90.8% from their February 2012 low, whilst residential property prices in the Rest of Ireland are 67.1% higher than they were in May 2013.

Average rents up 11.5% in year to March - Daft.ie report
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0504/960174-daft-report/

Commenting on the report, TCD Economist and report author Ronan Lyons said: "Rents have now been rising almost three times as long as they fell in the crash and the increases show no signs of moderating.

"With the exception of Donegal - where Brexit is having a clear effect on the local market - the problem is countrywide, although it is certainly most acute in Dublin.

"It is clear that, for those who have to look for a new home in the open market, rental inflation remains well above any reasonable measure of health. But as ever, rents are only the symptom.

"The cause remains a chronic and worsening lack of rental supply," he added.

USI supporting bill to impose rent caps on student accommodation
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/usi-supporting-bill-to-impose-rent-caps-on-student-accommodation-845766.html

It comes after students in DCU and NUI Galway protested against rent increases of almost 30% in recent months.

jimmycrackcorm

Wanderer78 wrote: »

We have not accepted that at the heart of this is a construct we call 'the market', in which is truly unable to provide us with all our needs, including housing, yes the numbers have meaning, and of course can sway thinking, but you are indeed correct, one of the main issues is indeed supply, but this has been known for years, and very little has changed, and probably will not for the foreseeable future.

I agree. the market shouldn't be left to provide social housing. Instead the Government should provide social housing as cheaply as possible which means most cost effectively building it in rural towns and villages and not in the expensive parts of Dublin. Leave that to the market, and get rid of the rule about a certain percentage being for social housing.


Of course there would be an outcry due to the desire for free "forever" homes, but these should be permanent, but not be forever. And as for the argument that it traps people in the SW system due to the lack of jobs in those areas, I say welcome to the world that I and many other culchies have had to follow to move to Dublin to get a job to pay for the roof over our heads.

Banning AirBnB would be a start. The number of whole houses/apartments for rent would go a long way to easing the crisis.

DubCount

Deleted User wrote: »

Banning AirBnB would be a start. The number of whole houses/apartments for rent would go a long way to easing the crisis.

If you ban AirBnB, a significant number of properties would be sold rather than put back into long term rental. Good news for property price inflation, no news for rental price inflation. You also get the side effect of a sudden and significant reduction of rooms available for visitors.

DubCount

DubCount wrote: »

If you ban AirBnB, a significant number of properties would be sold rather than put back into long term rental. Good news for property price inflation, no news for rental price inflation. You also get the side effect of a sudden and significant reduction of rooms available for visitors.

I get your points, but there are people looking for homes to buy. They then free up their current home from other families. Lots of properties coming on the market would lead to lower prices, not higher.

Slydice

The May figures have been released:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/homeless_report_-_may_2018.pdf
137 Children added.

Homelessness is on the rise. I've updated the two charts based on the totals they give.

Homelessness (Adults)


Family Homelessness


The latest report does not have commentary where previous reports did. They used to include:

The long term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes

or:

The root cause of increased homelessness is the supply shortage across the housing sector, which in turn is a result of the recent economic collapse and the associated damage to the construction sector. Accordingly the long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes.

Coverage of this report:
'Truly shocking': There are now 9,846 homeless people in Ireland
https://www.thejournal.ie/homeless-ireland-4-4097015-Jun2018/

There was also an increase of 12 families and 137 children in May. The number of homeless children in Ireland is now 3,826.

Homeless figures rise by 2%; 137 more children without a home/B]
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/homeless-figures-rise-by-2-137-more-children-without-a-home-851783.html

Homeless charity Inner City Helping Homeless said nearly 4,000 children are facing their summer holidays in emergency accommodation.

The charity added the rise in the number of homeless children is an increase of 38% in just 12 months.

Tweets:
https://twitter.com/Barnardos_IRL/status/1012348983677726720
https://twitter.com/FocusIreland/status/1012347054142754816
https://twitter.com/SimonCommunity/status/1012342324565770247
https://twitter.com/SimonCommunity/status/1012342753500581888
https://twitter.com/ICHHDUBLIN/status/1012338256736931846

Other recent media on homelessness and supply shortage in Ireland:
IMF says Ireland should reduce bank stakes and boost housing supply
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/imf-says-ireland-should-reduce-bank-stakes-and-boost-housing-supply-1.3546980

The housing sector remains a key focus for the Washington DC-based fund in light of the average increase of 13 per cent in house prices for March 2018. Pressures in the sector are “likely to persist over the medium term” as demand continues to outpace supply, the IMF said.

House prices 12.7% higher than last year and 75% higher than 2013 prices
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/house-prices-127-higher-than-last-year-and-75-higher-than-2013-prices-841793.html

Latest rent figures show 7.1% increase
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0612/970103-rent/

the Simon Communities in Ireland has said that the figures show that "the rental sector remains broken".

It added: "This is causing homelessness and preventing people from leaving homelessness behind. The rental market is under huge pressure and is struggling to cope with demand."

‘Bold, swift measures’ urged as average rent hits €1,060
https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bold-swift-measures-urged-as-average-rent-hits-1060-471782.html

Leilani Farha, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, made the call as it was revealed that rents have risen by 7.1% in the past year.

Addressing the Oireachtas Housing Committee yesterday, Ms Farha described the rise of homelessness in Ireland as “alarming”, and said that housing strategies must be based in law and affirm the right to housing as a legal right.

Rise of commuter student as rents soar
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/rise-of-commuter-student-as-rents-soar-36996334.html

The new dedicated student blocks provide a welcome increase in supply of accommodation, but their prices are out of reach for typical Irish undergraduates and are more likely to appeal to international students in receipt of grants to cover accommodation.

Topgear on Dave

In other news.... ON THE SAME DAY

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2018/0628/973942-raheny-housing-development/

"The site, it is claimed, is a significant foraging ground for the internationally important population of east Canadian high arctic light-bellied brent geese, and other protected species including curlew, black-tailed godwit, black-headed gull and oystercatcher."


:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:...:rolleyes:

Topgear on Dave

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

In other news.... ON THE SAME DAY

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2018/0628/973942-raheny-housing-development/

"The site, it is claimed, is a significant foraging ground for the internationally important population of east Canadian high arctic light-bellied brent geese, and other protected species including curlew, black-tailed godwit, black-headed gull and oystercatcher."


:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:...:rolleyes:

So, birds are more important than people. It sure is a crazy, crazy, crazy world.

4ensic15

Deleted User wrote: »

So, birds are more important than people. It sure is a crazy, crazy, crazy world.

There is no connection. There are plenty of other places to build.

I think a decent part of the problem is the kids of those who got social housing decades ago. For many it becomes an expectation that they'll be looked after by the State. There are folk in their 20s on housing lists for years. Waiting for their forever home near the folks, the local pub and their Paddy Power of choice.

Wanderer78

Augeo wrote:

I think a decent part of the problem is the kids of those who got social housing decades ago. For many it becomes an expectation that they'll be looked after by the State. There are folk in their 20s on housing lists for years. Waiting for their forever home near the folks, the local pub and their Paddy Power of choice.

Rising house prices and relatively stagnant pay, which is becoming common amongst free-for-all market economies, would hardly be playing a role here, would it?

The Student

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Rising house prices and relatively stagnant pay, which is becoming common amongst free-for-all market economies, would hardly be playing a role here, would it?

House prices are rising because of a lack of supply. I see it everyday single mothers in there late 20's on the housing list 10/12 yrs waiting for their "forever home".

These people went straight on the housing list at 18 showing no intention of ever trying to fend for themselves. This is one of the reasons we have a dysfunctional housing sector.

How exactly is it fair for someone who goes out to work each day pays a mortgage compared to someone who does not go out to work and does not have a mortgage but is housed by the state next door to the person paying a mortgage?