Kitty Holland - journalist or advocate?

boombang

I've been reading Kitty Holland's recent articles in the Irish Times about the housing crisis and feel she's not reporting objectively, but writing more as a crusading advocate. Not impressed. Opinions?

The articles include reporting that Sabrina McMahon was living in her car, as similar story about another mother and today's latest article about Daft.ie not censoring the use of a no rent allowance filter on their website.

Regarding the specifics of the rent allowance; I know it smacks of discrimination, but removing the filter isn't going to make the problem go away. Indeed, it might make it harder for rent allowance recipients find landlords willing to accept the payment.

Similarly, I felt with the Sabrina McMahon case Holland seemed to ask very few of the tough questions, including, why leave Kildare where you were housed to move to Dublin, where you have no accommodation?

Soft headed writing that's without any real inquiry in my opinion.

IRE60

boombang wrote: »

why leave Kildare where you were housed to move to Dublin, where you have no accommodation?

It clearly states "after her relationship with their father broke down more than a year ago" - so we don't know the in's and outs there.

As for the Rent Allowance - its a complete red herring, indeed regardless of the allowance tick box - the questions will be asked at a later stage when you get down to reference account details etc.

I think i came across that daft and myhome were the root cause for landlords being guarded when it comes to rent allowance.

boombang

IRE60 wrote: »

It clearly states "after her relationship with their father broke down more than a year ago" - so we don't know the in's and outs there.

I agree we don't know all the details, but I think the article needed to explain the nature of her previous accommodation. Was it private rented, was it with the support of rent allowance.

Basically I don't buy Sabrina McMahon's story and reckon she went to the papers to skip housing queues. I think Holland did not ask enough questions of this story and left me unconvinced.

Regarding accepting the rent allowance, it's been said to me that landlords don't want to take RA because they have to pass on their details to govt, but they may not be fully tax compliant. If this is the root caused the problem that Holland is drawing attention then she should chase that.

IRE60

boombang wrote: »

I agree we don't know all the details, but I think the article needed to explain the nature of her previous accommodation. Was it private rented, was it with the support of rent allowance.

Yea - that would have helped i suppose

boombang wrote: »

Regarding accepting the rent allowance, it's been said to me that landlords don't want to take RA because they have to pass on their details to govt, but they may not be fully tax compliant. If this is the root caused the problem that Holland is drawing attention then she should chase that.

The "root" cause, IMO, is that RA is paid to the tenant, who then is supposed to pass that on to the landlord. There are a few hazards ion that scenario.

IRE60

Actually wasn't there a bit in the phoenix last week(?) about a vacant social affairs position in the IT that Kitty Holland isn't being look at for - apparently. Seen as too "bleeding heart leftie" to paraphrase the Phoenix.

boombang

Thanks for the mention of the Pheonix article I might go (stand in Easons) and read it.

Think there is a serious issue of maintaining journalistic credibility for the IT. I don't expect some hard nosed character like Stephen Collins to write on such issues, but they're too important to be left to people with very demonstrable prejudices.

Mark Oxford

Any relation to Mary Holland?

Mr Pseudonym

IRE60 wrote: »

Actually wasn't there a bit in the phoenix last week(?) about a vacant social affairs position in the IT that Kitty Holland isn't being look at for - apparently. Seen as too "bleeding heart leftie" to paraphrase the Phoenix.

Ahh, so you're a Phoenix reader?! That would explain your regular contributions concerning Gemma O'Doherty!

porsche959

Mark Oxford wrote: »

Any relation to Mary Holland?

Daughter.

expectationlost

read the transcript of the niall boylan interview http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/05/15/sabrina-has-a-week/

McMahon: “If I go back to any of my family I’m going to be put on their rent and I’m never going to be housed.”

Boylan: “What you want the council to do now is put you on the homeless list, not on the housing list?”

McMahon: “Yes, we’d probably be put in a hostel. Many families have to do that… I don’t get along with my family and at this stage, with three small kids. If there was anyone out there who would take me and my three small kids I’d gladly go with them.”

Boylan: “Would you not rather go back to the house and try and make a home out of it just until you get it sorted rather than having three very young children living in a car?”

McMahon: “Definitely not. The house was broken into. If you seen the pictures that I have you’d understand… my son would not go back to the house.”

Boylan: “But what do your kids think about living in a car?”