Homelessness: The disgrace that is Varadkar and the Government

FreudianSlippers

Gijoseph wrote: »

Some of the posts here are borderline psychopathic. People are dying on the streets and people here are suggesting that they are somehow to blame.

The fact is that we have a rental crisis in Dublin and no amount of figure massaging, statistic preaching nonsense can change that.

There is very little evidence to support the wild jump that the "rental crisis" is resulting in people dying. In fact, I'd challenge you to produce any evidence that either of the people that died last week died as a result of the "rental crisis".

This is a fallacious-type narrative being put forward by some group of people (for an agenda of which I'm not clear) which just doesn't add up.

blanch152

Apart from the huge amounts of Government subsidisies, one other thing stood out from my look at the accounts of the various poverty/homelessness charitites industry - the sheer volume of government agencies also involved. Here is an example from the Cork Simon Community accounts:


Restricted income

HSE Section 39 care staff costs (a)
HSE LDATF outreach service
HSE other – addiction counsellor
HSE Drugs and alcohol service
CCC section 10 bednights
CCC settlement grant
CCC Housing First
CCC cold weather initiative
CCC Building improvement
DSP CE scheme
European Voluntary Service
DCYA YPFSF Cork ETB
CETB SureStart programme
Erasmus+ Street support project


14 different funds from 7 different agencies. There must be another huge layer of waste both within the charities who employ people to chase this money and also within the various government agencies.

It might well be time for an overall review of how and why we fund homelessness charities to see how the same amount of money could be more effectively spent, possibly without the charity middleman.

James Brown

Rodin wrote: »

Only in Ireland would being put up in a hotel every night be considered homeless and being in poverty.

A bit of perspective is sorely needed.

Far too many in this country dependent on the state while the squeezed middle pay for everything and get nothing in return.

People need to learn to live according to their means. Don't like it? Increase your means. Stop putting your hand out.

Too much entitlement and not enough personal responsibility.

The government for their part dont help. Over half a billion euro in the next year being wasted on a social welfare increase and Christmas bonus. Id scrap both and put it back in the pockets of working people.

I think the people in Hotels and B&B's is a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. And there are too many people dependent on the state, (working poor, developers, landlords).

Couldn't agree more. Far too much entitlement and reliance on the tax payer, (developers, landlords, failed government policy).

We should ensure working people can afford to rent without the need of assistance from the tax payer. We should never give handouts to private business to help them maintain or increase their profit margins.

Deleted User wrote: »

I often wonder why people bother with the “ignore” button rather than debate their points.

The homeless situation where people find themselves living in hotels is completely different to those sleeping on the streets. Some of those stuck in hotels could do more to help themselves, as in appeal to families or move to another part of the country. The excuse is usually not wanting to move away from the family that doesn’t want them living with them.

Rough sleepers usually have issues with mental health, drug and or drug addiction. Helping them needs totally different skills and realistically, rough sleepers will always be there.

You keep ignoring those homeless or in debt trying to avoid it due to financial reasons compounded by bad failed policy. Some people simply don't earn enough.
Can you provide any stats on the amount of people who could have a house but refused it? You lean on that one a lot.
It use to be that when you go on the housing list, it's within your council district and you are given an option of three areas you would prefer. Not sure if that's changed. Also I believe you get penalised, position on the list wise, if you are refusing. Moving to another part of the country is not part of the housing list but a scheme you need apply to, well it use to be anyway.

The idea that they can simply try harder to get a place to live is interesting. I thought Varadkar was stamping out fraud as regards welfare?

Nothing to do with this of course; Is it 1 in 4 TD's Landlords now, they may intervene now it's effecting their back end?

The research also indicates cash investors are now "crowding out" mortgage financed buy-to-let landlords, with over 60% (c. 200,000 units) of the country's private rental stock owned outright by investors.
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2017/1204/924777-number-of-people-renting-at-record-high-savills/

Landlords, developers and 'investors' aided by the state, (NAMA loans to developers/little social housing) are simply making as much money as they can before the arse falls out again and Fine Gael aren't doing anything to combat that.


***EDIT***

8.3 Refusal of Offers of Accommodation
In the event of two refusals of Social Housing (accommodation with either Dublin City Council, one of the
approved Housing Associations or under the Rental Accommodation Scheme) , the City Council will suspend a
household from the waiting list for 12 months. This will result in the household not be offered social housing
for the suspension period (12 months). It should be noted that this period will not subsequently count for
'time on list' purposes.
Where two reasonable offers in any Priority Status case (as listed in Section 5) are refused, the applicants will
lose their Priority Status and be considered instead on the basis of their time on the waiting list as and when
their suspension period is over and their suspension period will not count for ‘ time on the list’ purposes. .
The refusal of an offer made under Choice-Based Letting is not counted as a refusal for the purposes of the
general refusals policy.
http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/HousingAndCommunity/LookingForAHome/Housing%20Allocations%20Scheme.pdf

For your records.