Fears Wexford council’s housing policy is causing people ‘on the list for eight years’ to miss out on properties
Wexford PeopleA Wexford County Council (WCC) policy which ringfences houses for individuals using homelessness services has been called into question amid fears it is causing long-term applicants to miss out on properties. Having previously raised the issue of houses in the New Ross estate Ard na Bhile being allocated to those who require additional supports, Councillor Michael Sheehan said this policy is allowing some people to jump to the top of WCC’s housing list.
“My understanding is that up to 10 pc of houses are being ringfenced for those using the council’s Homeless Services and Support Unit (HSSU),” he said at the April meeting of WCC. “Some of those people require wraparound supports; I have no difficulty appreciating the need for these people to have housing, but I have difficulty in explaining this policy to someone who is on the housing list for eight years and is going to miss out to someone who becomes homeless and is moved to the top of the list.”
Explaining the policy in more detail, director of housing Carolyne Godkin said it was implemented with due consideration for everyone residing in council estates.
“People don’t come straight from emergency accommodation into estates,” she said. “There’s an overall allocation which we manage across the estates, there are a lot of households which need wraparound supports, including social houses. We try not to overload any estate with challenging households.”
“Is it one unit per estate or a percentage of the total number?” asked Cllr Sheehan.
“We would allocate 10 pc of all houses for people who come from a homeless pathway, so they may have had engagement with our homeless unit previously,” replied Ms Godkin. “But the length of time you’re on the housing list dictates when we allocate these.”
Referring back to a motion submitted on this issue in 2023, Cllr John Fleming said it had been requested that the policy be updated to state houses be allocated “where possible” to those using homeless services, but that the then chief executive, Mr Tom Enright, had intervened to block that suggestion.