HAP scheme on the verge of collapse

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik has demanded an urgent response from Government following the publication of the Simon Community Report today. The “Locked out of the Market” report found just 27 properties were available to rent within the standard housing assistance payment (HAP) scheme limits in 16 highly populated areas in Ireland.

Deputy Bacik said:
“This report is a stark reminder of the failure of this conservative coalition to address the housing crisis and shows that the HAP scheme is now on the verge of collapse.”

Deputy Bacik also criticised the government’s “tinkering around the edges” approach to the housing crisis, noting that the discretionary rate was considered during the summer, but not the core.

“This is not the time for half-measures. The government needs to take immediate action to address the supply, affordability, and security issues in the rental market. Otherwise, we will see thousands more households forced into homelessness in the weeks and months ahead."

Bacik pointed out that Labour has put forward a suite of emergency legislation to tackle the housing crisis, but the government has refused to act.

“It is clear that this government is more interested in protecting the profits of landlords than in helping working families. This is a social catastrophe, and the fault lies with this government.”