Conor Skehan :'Nothing but the facts will do when tackling homelessness'

[Purple]

We need modern good sized appartments in high rises. With proper regulation as to what gets built.

That requires a level of competence in planning, design and construction that we don't seem to possess.
It would be great to get local government removed completely from all planning decisions.
It would be great to see something like planning permissions given on the basis that if construction doesn't start within X time period there would be a CPO slapped on the site and the State would build the houses.
It would be great to see the construction sector start to use 20th century building methods (expecting 21st century methods would be too optimistic).

 

[Bronte]

I currently have 8 people sharing my 3 bedroom house. It is not ideal.
One is a student, and can pay his way.

The others are non-Irish (but legally resident) immigrants (?) refugees (?) not related to me.
One couple have the sole earner now on unpaid sick leave for months, with no income. The family with 3 children have two part-time minimum wages coming in. Neither family is in a position to cover rent and utility bills.

Nevertheless, I did respond to an agency advert for a 3 bedroom house for rent, thinking they might manage it with a little assistance, but was told the property was not suitable for a family with three children. Each child had to have its own bedroom.

We are all, including me, very thankful to have a roof over our heads, even if it's not the warmest or most comfortable.
It is a terrifying thought that if something happens to me, these families would truly be homeless.
They are not currently shown on any list as homeless, but if we were ever to be officially inspected, the accommodation would surely be regarded as unsuitable.

I don't like the superciliousness in this thread about desire for "forever houses". There are many not-exactly-homeless people in the same position who would take up any rental property they could afford, and make the best of it. But the properties are not available, affordable, or the agents and landlords are considering only the cream of rental applications.

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your post. You have one paying tenant, the student. Presumably they get one of the 3 bedrooms. And the other 7 people are in two bedrooms. Is that family of 5 in one bedroom.

The only adult working full time is you?
The Family of 5, the two adults work part time. Why not full time?
And the other couple, neither is working. One is sick. Why is the other one not working?
Where do you sleep?
Who told you each child has to have it's own bedroom?
Why is your house not warm?

 

[Bronte]

That requires a level of competence in planning, design and construction that we don't seem to possess.
It would be great to get local government removed completely from all planning decisions.
It would be great to see something like planning permissions given on the basis that if construction doesn't start within X time period there would be a CPO slapped on the site and the State would build the houses.
It would be great to see the construction sector start to use 20th century building methods (expecting 21st century methods would be too optimistic).

I agree with you Purple. But based on some quotes I got for jobs it's impossible to build realistically with the cost of building versus sale price.

 

[Purple]

I agree with you Purple. But based on some quotes I got for jobs it's impossible to build realistically with the cost of building versus sale price.

That's because the builders are like the small beef farmers; rubbish at doing their job and expect someone else to pay for their incompetence.

 

[fidelcastro]

The Finns have endless amounts of money ....

Not sure about why you think that. there isnt that much money in growing timber,

Oh yes I have absolutely scrubbed toilets. Cleaned out the most dire fridges and encrusted cookers. Rebagged gardens of household rubbish.

You can actually get tax relief on cleaning - its an allowable expense,


Whats wrong with the state building houses for people who can't afford it. It was done in the 50's,60's,70's. when we didnt have two pennys to rub together..... yes, It does costs a fortune, yes , no one would willingly give peoples a "free house" but if you dont, it'll cost you multiples of the sum in the future.

Oh no, I've got it....we must always follow & copy England and follow its Thatcherite policies. Good one, hope that ends well.

 

[Gervan]

Sorry if I'm misunderstanding your post. You have one paying tenant, the student. Presumably they get one of the 3 bedrooms. And the other 7 people are in two bedrooms. Is that family of 5 in one bedroom.

The only adult working full time is you?
The Family of 5, the two adults work part time. Why not full time?
And the other couple, neither is working. One is sick. Why is the other one not working?
Where do you sleep?
Who told you each child has to have it's own bedroom?
Why is your house not warm?

I don't really think your questions are relevant to this thread, Bronte. I was trying to demonstrate the "hidden homeless" problem and the difficulties people face finding private accommodation.
The parents of small children are of course juggling employment with caring for the children. The baby sleeps with them, and the other children have another room.
The partner of the sick person has been applying for jobs for a year without any success. He is of the generation that finds the idea of applying for welfare abhorrent.
Although the house is a 3 bedroom, one downstairs room has been brought into use as a bedroom, and there is also a converted attic.

I was told by the agency dealing with the three bedroomed house for rent that an application by a family with three children would not be even be considered. They could only apply for a four bedroomed property. I don't know if that is the policy of the agency of landlord.

I find your question as to "why my house isn't warm" totally baffling. A combination of poor insulation, as with an old house, and insufficient funds for me to run the heating for 24 hours a day.....

 

[Conan]

SF and Eoin O’Broin are particularly vocal about homelessness. Perhaps they might put their money where their mouth is and donate some of the €4.7m inheritance towards this cause? After all they surely haven’t spent all the millions from the Northern Bank robbery?

 

[fidelcastro]

Meanwhile Dublin Corporation spend money (22 million est.) on inclusive leisure facilities in the inner city.....white water rafting at 150Euro a go according to media reports. Well priced for the corporates, but not the locals


What about building a municipal swimming pool for the people. No chance!

 

[galway_blow_in]

Not sure about why you think that. there isnt that much money in growing timber,


You can actually get tax relief on cleaning - its an allowable expense,


Whats wrong with the state building houses for people who can't afford it. It was done in the 50's,60's,70's. when we didnt have two pennys to rub together..... yes, It does costs a fortune, yes , no one would willingly give peoples a "free house" but if you dont, it'll cost you multiples of the sum in the future.

Oh no, I've got it....we must always follow & copy England and follow its Thatcherite policies. Good one, hope that ends well.

The state can't even collect income from the houses it currently owns, (nor can it evict rogue tenants) never mind embark on a massive building of houses

 

[Purple]

SF and Eoin O’Broin are particularly vocal about homelessness. Perhaps they might put their money where their mouth is and donate some of the €4.7m inheritance towards this cause? After all they surely haven’t spent all the millions from the Northern Bank robbery?

There might be a few bob in Jean McConville's handbag as well, if they can remember where they put it.

 

[odyssey06]

Meanwhile Dublin Corporation spend money (22 million est.) on inclusive leisure facilities in the inner city.....white water rafting at 150Euro a go according to media reports. Well priced for the corporates, but not the locals... What about building a municipal swimming pool for the people. No chance!

It's an unfathomable *cough* decision.
Are they spending that money on that so they won't have to spend it on something that brings messy responsibilities such as housing?

 

[fidelcastro]

The state can't even collect income from the houses it currently owns, (nor can it evict rogue tenants) never mind embark on a massive building of houses

There are lots of things the State isnt good at doing efficiently. The list is extensive. So your suggestion is we privatise housing of our citizens to vulture funds.
What next schools too. I suspose a hard Irexit is next , to copy your British Buccaneeers.

There might be a few bob in Jean McConville's handbag as well, if they can remember where they put it.

Please, that isnt a nice joke, and her her body was found. I guess you object to Fianna Fail / Fine Gael too, or prefer Trump ?

 

[Purple]

Please, that isnt a nice joke, and her her body was found. I guess you object to Fianna Fail / Fine Gael too, or prefer Trump ?

It's not nice that the organisation that killed her gets a serious chunk of the vote in this country. It's always worth reminding people who the Shinners really are when you look behind the curtain.
I'd vote FF or FG or Trump or Paul Murphy or Mick Wallace any day of the week before I'd vote for child killers and their apologists.

 

[galway_blow_in]

There are lots of things the State isnt good at doing efficiently. The list is extensive. So your suggestion is we privatise housing of our citizens to vulture funds.


the state cant collect rent or evict rogue tenants as the political left and media would hammer them

 

[Leo]

You can actually get tax relief on cleaning - its an allowable expense,

You know it isn't if you do it yourself!

 

[Leo]

Meanwhile Dublin Corporation spend money (22 million est.) on inclusive leisure facilities in the inner city.....white water rafting at 150Euro a go according to media reports. Well priced for the corporates, but not the locals

If the locals in social housing just paid two thirds of the arrears on their means tested rent they'd have cash to spare after building that!

 

[NoRegretsCoyote]

There are lots of things the State isnt good at doing efficiently. The list is extensive. So your suggestion is we privatise housing of our citizens to vulture funds.
What next schools too. I suspose a hard Irexit is next , to copy your British Buccaneeers.

The state is actually very competent and building schools and filling them with teachers.

Social housing much less so.

 

[Purple]

The state is actually very competent and building schools and filling them with teachers.

Social housing much less so.

I'm not sure about the building schools bit.
Teachers are both "Front Line Staff" and "Professionals" and so you are not allowed to criticise them. They are not as untouchable as Doctors or, the holies of all, nurses, but you still aren't allowed to say anything bad about them.