Concerns raised over Meath housing list contact protocols
Concerns have been raised about how Meath County Council contacts individuals on the social housing list.
At the September meeting of Meath County Council, Sinn Féin councillor Helen Meyer called on the Housing Department to implement a “specific protocol” to verify ongoing housing needs.
“This protocol should include sending an email first, followed by a letter, and then making a phone call, in that order,” Cllr Meyer said.
She added: “The current practice of sending a letter and making a phone call is inadequate, as neither method is traceable, leading to unnecessary disputes. It is crucial that every effort is made to reach an individual before they are removed from the housing list.”
In response, Meath County Council confirmed that its Housing Department already follows a structured protocol in line with Departmental guidelines. This includes issuing an original letter, a first reminder letter, a second reminder letter, and making phone call attempts.
According to the local authority, all attempted contacts and dates are logged to ensure traceability.
The Council also highlighted the importance of the Summary Social Housing Assessment (SSHA), an annual assessment of national housing need initiated in 2016.
“The purpose of the SSHA is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need is not being met, in order to understand the level of need for such support,” Meath County Council said.
“Where a household is eligible and demonstrates a need, they are then deemed to qualify for support. They are entered on the record of qualified households for social housing support, or the waiting list.”
“The SSHA is an important exercise that can tell us more about the profile of applicants for social housing support. This can inform policy and allow the Council to plan for the right types of housing support.”