Call for urgent review of HAP system
A local councillor has called for an urgent review of the Housing Assistance Payment system as current rates have not increased since 2016.
Provided by the local authority, HAP is a social housing support for those who have a long-term housing need.
Raising the motion during the recent meeting of the Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Cllr Vinny McCormack stated that the current system was not working for the local authority, landlords or prospective tenants noting that he had been expressing his concerns in this regard for some time.
"Many landlords will not entertain HAP to begin with and those who do so have to wait two to three months for HAP paperwork to process, meaning there is a possibility that they are left without rental income from the property for a period of time.
"The rates offered to tenants have not kept speed with growing rents, the average two bedroom property costing upwards of €1200 per month to rent but the applicant may only be offered €450 per month in support of this rental figure if on basic HAP.
"There are increases in certain circumstances where an applicant is eligible for enhanced HAP. All of the signs at the minute point towards the removal of the rent cap and in the short term this will invariably lead to higher monthly rents in many cases, meaning any HAP payment is even less effective.
Noting that the restrictions regarding HAP were "ridiculous", Cllr McCormack provided an example of to the chamber of a rental situation with which he can see no positive outcome.
"I have been dealing with one case in particular where a mother and her young daughter have been in emergency hotel accommodation for over four months, costing the council upwards of €500 per week in payments to the hotel. During this tome the lady in question has sourced two properties which were willing to accept HAP.
"The first, a one bedroom apartment was priced at €950 per month and the council refused this as they said it didn’t meet her needs, being a one bedroom rather than a two bedroom house.
"The second was a two bedroom apartment priced at €,1250 per month, but the council refused this property as they said the monthly rent, even with HAP was unsustainable for her. This lady is only approved to source properties under €1,050 per month and it would have to be a two bedroom property. This makes it virtually impossible for this lady to find a property which will take her out of homelessness and emergency accommodation. This case is a perfect example of the huge failings of the HAP system and why, at the very least there must be an urgent review of it," Cllr McCormack said.
In support of Cllr McCormack's views, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, stated that the HAP system was currently "not fit for purpose".
"This is simply not a way to deal with our housing issue. The system needs to be more streamlined so that sense can be applied to this particular payments process for all the parties involved," Cllr O'Rourke said.
In response, Director of Services Jackie Feeney acknowledged the massive pressures faced by the council given the problematic housing stock issue.
"We regularly provide feedback to the Department regarding the housing issues we are facing and we are in the process of recruiting a HAP place finder to assist those who need assistance with the process. We are making some progress regarding the provision of housing in the District but of course there are always going to be challenges along this journey," the Director of Services said.