Sinn Féin TD and housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin has expressed “grave concern” at the rise in homeless HAP tenancies in recent years.
The Dublin Mid-West TD was speaking after the Department of Housing revealed that homeless HAP levels have nearly doubled since 2019.
Ó Broin noted, “in recent years, the number of active HAP tenancies has been falling, however, the number of landlords in receipt of homeless HAP payments has almost doubled.”
“Homeless HAP provides a HAP payment of up to 50% above the base rate for people at risk of homelessness or in emergency accommodation in Dublin,” he explained.
Per the Department, there were 5,632 homeless HAP tenancies funded through the Dublin Regional executive at the end of 2019, or 11% of overall national figures – the most recent round of figures now stands at 9,423, or 19% of overall national figures.
“With landlords in Dublin now only taking homeless HAP tenancies on this figure is set to increase further,” Ó Broin warned.
“These figures do not include the discretionary increase in HAP payments of up to 30% outside Dublin for those at risk of homelessness, which the Department of Housing does not currently provide data on,” he noted.
Dublin HAP and Homeless HAP tenancies have increased from 14,117 to 19,981 in just over five years, an increase of 41.5%
“What this clearly demonstrates is that the government’s targets for and delivery of social housing are nowhere close to meeting the actual demand, particularly in Dublin and other larger cities,” the Dublin Mid-West TD said.
Ó Broin noted “while homeless HAP prevents many people from becoming homeless, it is not a long-term solution either for the tenants or for the taxpayer.”
“As government and local authorities finalise their new social housing delivery plans, they must take into account total social housing need, including council lists, and HAP and RAS tenants.
The Sinn Féin TD said, “the government and the Housing Agency must also urgently conclude their review of the HAP scheme, publish the report, and engage with the Oireachtas Housing Committee.”
“The government must ensure that the new-build social housing targets are adequate to meet social housing need in order to reduce their over reliance on HAP and increasingly on homeless HAP,” he said.