Don't Punish The Vulnerable

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 15, 2008 – In advance of one of the most feared budgets in living memory, Ireland’s largest housing association is calling on the Government to act responsibly. Respond! is asking that the Government helps the most vulnerable in our society, particularly the 43,000 families on Local Authority housing lists. The housing charity maintain this can be achieved by stimulating the housing market through increased production in social housing.
Ned Brennan, Respond! Chief Operations Officer says increasing social housing production will help the Irish economy in many ways.

           “Increased production of social housing will not only help curtail rising unemployment in the construction sector, it will also decrease the number of people now availing of social welfare assistance. In addition, tax revenues for the Government will be generated. A period of economic downturn is not the time to reduce supports for the poor and vulnerable in our society. This Government should do everything it can to assist those people who were effectively devoured by the Celtic Tiger ”

Respond!, the largest housing charity in Ireland, maintains that during these uncertain economic times, the need for social housing is greater than ever before. The time has come for the Government to deliver on the housing commitments made in Towards 2016, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities and The National Development Plan (2007 -2013). In 2007, 6,671 social homes were completed at a cost of €290 million. Respond! recommends that 11,000 homes are provided in 2009, at a total cost of €473 million. This increase in capital expenditure is vital as the number of homes being repossessed reaches alarming proportions. So far this year, banks have repossessed homes at a rate of one per day, with reports suggesting this rate will increase.

“With growing uncertainty in the housing and construction sectors, now is the time for the Government to act,” added Mr Brennan. “Local Authority waiting lists now exceed 43,000 families, so it is crucial that this Government delivers on the 44,000 social and affordable homes promised by 2009. There are many options available to this Government to increase the supply of social housing more cost effectively. These include discounted land purchased through Local Authorities; an improvement in the approval procedure for projects and site discounts and the provision of 100% mortgages through the Housing Finance Agency” concluded Mr Brennan.

Respond! is Ireland’s largest provider of social housing. The organisation has provided more than 4000 units of accommodation nationwide, with a further 1000 units under construction.  The organisation advocates for integrated, social housing as housing of first choice rather than last resort.