Social Housing Strategy to provide homes for those who need them – Fitzpatrick

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has today (Thursday) said that the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020 will address the current housing shortage, provide homes for those who need them and change how we deal with social housing in the future.

“The Social Housing Strategy announced by the Government today will deal with the housing shortage by providing 35,000 social housing units by 2020 and addressing the needs of a further 75,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme.  

“In order to address the very long waiting lists nationwide, 90,000 homes are needed. The Government’s plan is an ambitious one as we intend to provide 35,000 social housing units through the building and acquisition of over 22,000 units, the lease of 11,000 and the return to use of over 2,000 units. This will benefit those waiting for housing in County Louth.

“As well as providing homes, reform of the system is also a major part of the strategy announced today. The Rent Supplement Scheme will be replaced by the Housing Assistance Payment, a payment that it designed to ensure people have the accommodation they need but they will not be prohibited from working while in receipt of this payment. This is part of the Government strategy to make work pay. The Housing Assistance Payment is being introduced on a phased basis in a number of Local Authorities and will be widespread by 2015.  

“A new Housing Passport mechanism will allow greater mobility of social housing tenants, and a Choice-Based Letting system will offer increased choice for those selecting their new home.

“I am particularly pleased that increased spend on social housing will impact positively on the construction industry. It is estimated that the strategy will see the creation of 29,000 jobs which is very good news for Louth tradespeople.

“The €2.2 billion announced in Budget 2015 will kick-start this project, but the total cost of supplying 35,000 units by 2020 will be €3.8 billion. Everyone deserves the right to a place they call home and the Social Housing Strategy announced today is going to address the current housing shortage which has left so many people in a vulnerable situation.”