‘Families are being condemned to poverty’ –Government slammed as calls made for social housing income thresholds to be lowered

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

There was widespread support for a motion before the October meeting of Sligo County Council calling on Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, to increase the income threshold for social housing.

Outlining her motion to the Council Chamber, Cllr Ann Higgins called for the increase “In the context of current market and population conditions and the significantly changed landscape since the standardised income limits were introduced as many working individuals or families who are not on high incomes are excluded from applying for social housing.”

Cllr Higgins said, “The squeezed middle are not spoken about,” adding, “Thresholds are not working, it’s simply not working.”

Cllr Higgins relayed a conversation she had with a mother whose son was deemed ineligible. Cllr Higgins was told by the mother in question, ‘Houses are being given out to people who have never worked a day in their lives.’

Supporting the motion, Cllr Gino O’Boyle said, “It is unjust and out of date. I would ask for a single, national threshold.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Cllr Michael Clarke who said, “The problem we have is we have no houses. The government is reneging on their promises to build houses. Families are being condemned to poverty by the government and the State.

"It’s an absolute disgrace how we are treating people searching for homes.”