Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
DUBLIN’S LORD MAYOR is to ask the Government to make a number of changes to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) system, including the funding of a deposit to tenants to help them to secure accommodation.
The scheme, which is only available to people who are already homeless, provides financial assistance to individuals with their rent payments.
However, they must come up with a deposit themselves and it is a tenant’s responsibility to ensure they get their deposit back when the tenancy ends, so they can carry it over to a new tenancy.
Alison Gilliland, who is also a Labour party councillor, told The Journal that she will ask the Minister for Housing to consider changing the general HAP system to include a deposit.
She said such a reform could be the key to keeping people out of homelessness.
“Families find it really, really hard to get that deposit together,” she said. “So, like the Homeless HAP, the ordinary HAP could allow for a deposit to be given as well, and then it would be the family or individual’s responsibility to get that deposit back and use it then if they need to move on. That would make a difference.”
Gilliland yesterday visited the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) operational building, where staff liaise with those who are facing homelessness and arrange placements both in emergency and long term accommodation.
She sought input from those working with homeless clients on how barriers could be lifted.
Staff at the DRHE building told the Lord Mayor that many of the calls they receive are from families who have never been homeless before, often because a HAP tenancy has not worked out and they are struggling to find a new home in the current rental market.
Advertisement
Another suggestion she plans to raise with the Government is a shift to funding HAP rents by unit, rather than the number of people in the tenancy.
“HAP is associated with the person, so if you’re single you will get a particular amount of HAP, if you have two children it’s another amount,” she said.
“Instead of allocation to the person, the idea is that it would be allocated to a one-bed or a two-bed or a three-bed. If you had, for example, a couple, and one of the two left, the other could still sustain the tenancy rather than neither of them being able to sustain it.”
Gilliland is meeting with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien today and said she plans to raise the suggestions she heard with him.
She said the ideas she will raise come “from our people who are actually on the frontline”.
“They know what will work and what will make a difference and two small thing like that would make a big difference to sourcing accommodation. I think we really need to push that the minister would bring that in.”
Gililland also heard from staff at the DRHE about the impact of high rents in Dublin and a lack of housing within HAP limits.
“One of the big concerns I have is the skewing of the market of build-to-rent,” she said.
Most large developments that come into Dublin City Council for planning approval are build-to-rent. We know that the outcome there is to maximise profits and there is a very high market rent in and around the city. Ordinary HAP doesn’t meet that rent, Homeless HAP might, but you’re feeding the market. The very high rent levels are disadvantaging everybody and they’re not helping supply.
She said the council’s role in “disrupting” that cycle is to build affordable housing and to rent it at affordable levels.
“We will try to step up to that mark and we’ve identified our own gaps, particularly around project management, to get our own systems bringing out that level of delivery,” she said.
“But from the department’s perspective there are still blockages that need to be removed.”
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
39 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
The Irish taxpayers credit card must be nearly maxed out at this stage. The only solutions these people can come up with is piling more debt upon debt.
@David Corrigan: And pray tell, what is your solution to the crippling homelessness and housing crisis that our country is experiencing? Do you have a better solution? Does making snarky comments on The Journal make you feel like you know better than everyone else?? Lol Don’t bother responding, it was a rhetorical question pff
I got put to work for christmas and boxing day just so that all the quadruple taxes that revenue will make off of me would go to the ones that are cosy in their council house beside the fireplace not having to work a day , i am positive that they will definitely thank me and the likes.
@John Johnes: It’s a good measure of any society how we look after the less well of in our society.
I’ve worked for over 50 years and I don’t begrudge having some of our taxes go to held the more needy in our society, yes they will always be people that will abuse the system but it’s up to each department and each individual to try and stop this from happening, if you know someone that’s abusing the system then report them.
@Gerrard: Well if this is true then society is failing you, and so is your public representative and any other body that is tasked with looking after you and an other person that is tasked with looking after the needs of the disabled.
@John Johnes: I work very hard & have done for the last 35 years. I had a great house & a mortgage to go with it. I had my bills & taxes to pay like a grown up. I lost my house through divorce, still paying a mortgage. Guess what, I’m on Hap for the last year or so. Still working my nuts off. But hey, thank you very much…
@John Johnes: If the grass is that much greener on the other side why don’t you quit working and get yourself a taste of this so called good life that the poorer, less fortunate in society are loving so much! Merry Christmas me ar** you plank!
@Keith Flood: Except for the fact that the money isn’t actually going down the drain, or disappearing into the ether. It is going to individuals and businesses, vulture funds etc. People are getting very good financial returns at the expense of the tax payer, whilst the people that these schemes are supposed to help are trapped in the private rental sector at the mercy of bad policy
@Chris Hennessy: no, its going to the State. 52% of the rent goes to the State in tax: income, USC, PRSI. So they’re actually clawing back a huge chunk of HAP and the wider economy and society get no benefit.
If Dublin City Council didn’t stop building social housing for years the city wouldn’t be in this mess. There was more housing built in the 40s and 50s than there has been now when the country had little or no money.
SERIOUSLY I am sick to death with the hand outs.. the country is screaming for workers in certain sectors yet people get free money for not working. The Government need to stop this NOW.
@James Johnson: I’m on Hap, don’t want to be but have no choice as I’d be homeless & nowhere to bring my kids. I work very hard & have done for the last 35 years. Got myself a mortgage & house only to lose it in divorce. I’m actually getting something back for all the years of paying my taxes. Is it free money for me????
Introducing hap was biggest mistake on its own instead of extending rent supplement now you pay to council and the landlord , someone was deluded thinking how to complicate things more , other than help people in need
As usual more resources ,more public spending on useless program which doesnt fit the purpose
@Marcin Goralski: The problem with rent supplement was we were told that the recipients couldn’t work and it created a poverty trap. This was addressed with HAP in that the recipients of HAP could work and pay their differential rent to the council, who are paying the rent to the landlord. It would be interesting to see what the average rent paid to councils via the HAP scheme is because in my experience the majority still don’t work.
I’ve post this idea before on the Journal, let’s see how it flys this time.
I believe all residential property in the state should be nationalised, agree a fair market price for the property.
When this is complete have the local authority allocate according to the individual family needs. This would solve the housing crisis in a very short time. A long side this have the local authority start a house building program again as they did in the 70 and 80.
I know this won’t happen to many of the ruling classes are property owners and politicians.
@Jimmy Kiely: “I know this won’t happen to many of the ruling classes are property owners and politicians.”
Of course it will never happen, the voters are property owners as well and property owners are never in favour of communism.
And it doesn’t need to happen. Just start building social housing as per the needs of the country like we did in the past. No need to steal anyone’s property and it is stealing if it’s forced, regardless of a ‘fair market price’.
@Will: yes but most have the property as their home, the ruling classes and politicians take the money from the state for HAP. People on here talk about handouts, HAPS is a government handout to property owners in disguise.
Again I say,national all rental property that is not your main residence.
Brilliant yes give them more money and a car why don’t you. Fed up that tax payers are always paying out for this type of behaviour. Like some people sitting on there lazy ass all year round and getting a Xmas bonus. I was out sick from work on illness benefit last Xmas which is the same payment as the social welfare and I got no bonus?
@John Quinn: You still have a job, don’t you? It’s not accurate to state that certain people can claim handouts and sit on their backsides their entire lives. That may have been the case in the distant past but now there are rigorous systems and checks in place to ensure that those claiming welfare payments comply with the conditions required to qualify and are not abusing the system.
Ireland needs 23 beds for eating disorders - but seven years on, there's still no sign of them
Paul O'Donoghue
2 hrs ago
608
3
CLINT HILL
Secret Service agent who leaped to shield Kennedy from assassination dies aged 93
3 hrs ago
4.3k
Murder Investigation
American mother drops newborn to death from Paris hotel window
11 hrs ago
45.3k
Your Cookies. Your Choice.
Cookies help provide our news service while also enabling the advertising needed to fund this work.
We categorise cookies as Necessary, Performance (used to analyse the site performance) and Targeting (used to target advertising which helps us keep this service free).
We and our 152 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting Accept All enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Cookie Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage .Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.
We and our vendors process data for the following purposes:
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
Cookies Preference Centre
We process your data to deliver content or advertisements and measure the delivery of such content or advertisements to extract insights about our website. We share this information with our partners on the basis of consent. You may exercise your right to consent, based on a specific purpose below or at a partner level in the link under each purpose. Some vendors may process your data based on their legitimate interests, which does not require your consent. You cannot object to tracking technologies placed to ensure security, prevent fraud, fix errors, or deliver and present advertising and content, and precise geolocation data and active scanning of device characteristics for identification may be used to support this purpose. This exception does not apply to targeted advertising. These choices will be signaled to our vendors participating in the Transparency and Consent Framework.
Manage Consent Preferences
Necessary Cookies
Always Active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Store and/or access information on a device 104 partners can use this purpose
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development 136 partners can use this purpose
Use limited data to select advertising 106 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Create profiles for personalised advertising 78 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Use profiles to select personalised advertising 77 partners can use this purpose
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Create profiles to personalise content 37 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Use profiles to select personalised content 33 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Measure advertising performance 127 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Measure content performance 60 partners can use this purpose
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources 75 partners can use this purpose
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Develop and improve services 82 partners can use this purpose
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Use limited data to select content 38 partners can use this purpose
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
Use precise geolocation data 43 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification 25 partners can use this special feature
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud, and fix errors 86 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Deliver and present advertising and content 96 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Match and combine data from other data sources 68 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Link different devices 50 partners can use this feature
Always Active
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Identify devices based on information transmitted automatically 84 partners can use this feature
Always Active
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
Save and communicate privacy choices 64 partners can use this special purpose
Always Active
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say