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Pathway to eradicating homelessness, increasing social housing delivery and supporting social inclusion
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
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Housing policy must address the needs of those who experience social exclusion in our society. Through ‘Housing for All’, the government is committed to taking firm action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help those experiencing homelessness to exit into secure and sustained tenancies.
The need to increase protections for renters - those inside and outside of Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ) - is clear. Through ‘Housing for All’, the government will link future rent increases in RPZs to consumer inflation. This change is in addition to other protections for renters introduced by the government. The provision for bi-annual rent reviews (that is, every two years) for those living outside RPZs has been extended for three years. There is also a restriction on the amount of upfront payments a landlord can ask a tenant for at the beginning of a tenancy.
The government is also committed to increasing the housing options for people with a disability and for older persons. It is also committed to improvements in the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation.
This pathway will lead to more protections for those in all types of housing. It will give long-term supports to ensure people have a secure home.
Among the main actions under this pathway are:
- provide more than 10,000 new social homes each year, with an average 9,500 new-build units
- through an updated Housing First National Implementation Plan , provide 1,200 tenancies over the next five years for people with a history of rough sleeping or long-term use of emergency accommodation and with complex needs
- end long-term leasing of social housing by local authorities
- strengthen the Mortgage to Rent scheme to ensure it meets the needs of those in long-term mortgage arrears
- make improvements in the quality and quantity of Traveller-specific accommodation
- provide capital funding for housing for specific vulnerable cohorts that are eligible for Capital Assistance Scheme funding. These include older persons and persons with a disability.
Read this pathway of ‘Housing for All’ in full.
Housing for All: A New Housing Plan for Ireland - Pathway 2
DownloadThe Housing First National Implementation Plan for 2022-2026 was launched on 20 December 2021. The Housing First programme provides those people with a history of rough sleeping, or long-term use of emergency accommodation, and who have complex needs, with a home for life with key wraparound health and social supports. The Plan will provide 1,319 new supported tenancies and wrap-around supports to keep tenants in their homes.
A National Homeless Action Committee was established. It held its first meeting on 20 December 2021. The committee is chaired by Minister O’Brien and comprises of Government departments, State agencies and key stakeholders (including NGOs). It will oversee implementation of inter-agency measures committed to under Housing for All, including accelerating the delivery of new supports. It will also aim to ensure coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions.
On 12 July 2021, a pilot version of the preferential Caravan Loan scheme commenced in four local authority areas. The scheme has the potential to make an immediate and hugely significant improvement to living conditions on halting sites. The pilot is being reviewed with the intention to roll it out nationally during 2022. Funding has been secured for the full roll-out in Budget 2022 with €3 million being made available.
A revised Mortgage to Rent Scheme was launched on 24 January 2022. A number of improvements have been made to the scheme. The positive equity limit will increase to better align with the range of house prices across the regions. Purchase price thresholds for properties have been updated. There is also additional flexibility in terms of the number of bedrooms allowable in a home for borrowers aged 65 and over, or where the borrower has a disability and the property has had to be adapted (or is already suitable).
Pathway to Eradicating Homelessness, Increasing Social Housing Delivery and Supporting Social Inclusion: Factsheet
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Housing First: Plan for Homeless People - Infographic
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Housing First: Plan for Homeless People Infographic - Accessible Version
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Housing for All: Eradicating Homelessness - Infographic
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Housing for All: Eradicating Homelessness Infographic - Accessible Version
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