Advertisement

We need your help now

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 Lord Mayor Alison Gilliland spoke with staff who are working with homeless clients every day to seek their input. Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Dublin Lord Mayor to tell Housing Minister that HAP scheme should include a deposit for tenants

Alison Gilliland said funding an initial deposit could be key to keeping many people out of homeless services.

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.

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.

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.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 6:51 AM

    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.

    488
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:50 AM

    @David Corrigan: it’s like there is no other option!

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:57 AM

    @Dave Thomas: No creative thinking at all. The system is populated with individuals with no experience in business or management.

    197
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stuart Birney
    Favourite Stuart Birney
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:38 PM

    @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

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Johnes
    Favourite John Johnes
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:05 AM

    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.

    Merry Christmas.

    420
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:48 AM

    @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.

    Have a good and joyous Christmas.

    143
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerrard
    Favourite Gerrard
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:51 AM

    @John Johnes: are you working in the uk as your working Boxing Day ?

    134
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:52 AM

    @John Johnes: bet you vote for ffg!

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerrard
    Favourite Gerrard
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:53 AM

    @Jimmy Kiely: but they don’t help the disabled they discontinued supports in 2013 and still haven’t come up with new solutions since

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:00 AM

    @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.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Bolt
    Favourite The Bolt
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:01 AM

    @John Johnes: Imagine going through life being that bitter. You might think about packing work up altogether. Might get that chip off your shoulder.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute G Row.
    Favourite G Row.
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:15 AM

    @John Johnes: Don’t worry John the time will come when you will be able to drive past the new Irish shanty towns.
    You will love it, not long now.

    Keep voting for FFG.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karen 'Polly' Johnson
    Favourite Karen 'Polly' Johnson
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:23 AM

    @John Johnes: I’d say your parents are proud Scrouge…always one…May you never Need anything in you life, sometimes people can’t predict the future

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean May
    Favourite Sean May
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 11:01 AM

    @The Bolt: It’s not a chip he has on his shoulder, it’s a full bag of potatoes!

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Barry
    Favourite John Barry
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 12:16 PM

    @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…

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stuart Birney
    Favourite Stuart Birney
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:42 PM

    @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!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Flood
    Favourite Keith Flood
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:36 AM

    Enough social housing could have been built ten times over since HAP’s inception. Constant money pouring down the drain .

    260
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 7:52 AM

    @Keith Flood: exactly!

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Hennessy
    Favourite Chris Hennessy
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 9:38 AM

    @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

    62
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Moylan
    Favourite John Moylan
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 9:39 PM

    @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.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Noone
    Favourite Conor Noone
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:03 AM

    So delusional.

    It should be scrapped altogether and replaced with council built not for profit rentals.

    178
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick McGuinness
    Favourite Mick McGuinness
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:05 AM

    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.

    118
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute johnbrady
    Favourite johnbrady
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:17 AM

    @Mick McGuinness: Dublin is still the same size its always been and they refuse to build up so hardly surprising there’s a shortage

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Johnson
    Favourite James Johnson
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:21 AM

    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.

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M Bowe
    Favourite M Bowe
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:42 AM

    @James Johnson: the wage level in vast majority of those vacant jobs is not enough to sustain the average rent and reasonable life style.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:49 AM

    @James Johnson: would you work for €10.50 an hour and loose all of your benefits. ?????

    23
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Barry
    Favourite John Barry
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 12:21 PM

    @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????

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ashling Fenton
    Favourite Ashling Fenton
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:55 AM

    Bring back mortgage tax relief!

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn O'Hanrahan
    Favourite Eamonn O'Hanrahan
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:01 AM

    ‘lord mayor’ … It’s a title for a noble man.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karen 'Polly' Johnson
    Favourite Karen 'Polly' Johnson
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 8:26 AM

    @Eamonn O’Hanrahan:

    Noble Lady!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marcin Goralski
    Favourite Marcin Goralski
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 9:27 AM

    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

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The next small thing
    Favourite The next small thing
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 12:13 PM

    @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.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
    Favourite Fiona Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 9th 2021, 12:14 AM

    @The next small thing: The majority are senior citizens who are retired on a small pension. How many lifetimes would you like them to work?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 9:12 AM

    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.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Will
    Favourite Will
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 10:00 AM

    @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’.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 11:12 AM

    @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.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Quinn
    Favourite John Quinn
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 11:18 AM

    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?

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Reville
    Favourite Mark Reville
    Report
    Dec 8th 2021, 1:57 PM

    @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.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Drunk in Dublin
    Favourite Drunk in Dublin
    Report
    Dec 9th 2021, 12:09 AM

    HAP is a scam; just lower the rents so everyone can afford to live

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds