Sir, – As a housing association with a long and successful record of helping single adults out of homelessness by identifying and catering for support needs, we at Daisyhouse Housing Association share the concerns of many councillors at the manner in which Dublin City Council has declared more than 12,500 applicants for housing to be now ineligible (Home News, September 27th). It is indeed likely that many of those who failed to respond to letters from the council are the most vulnerable and most in need of help but for various reasons may find it difficult to engage with the system.
This action may make the numbers look good but does not address the underlying problem and is likely to make it worse.
The assertion by the council that over 5,000 people should remain in the private rented sector seems ridiculous in light of the finding that almost 80 per cent of those on the list have household incomes of less than €15,000 and more than 60 per cent are unemployed. What kind of private rented accommodation do they think people can obtain on this income? What kind of security of tenure do they think they have? We call on the councillors to exert sufficient pressure on the council to do a more thorough and sensitive analysis of need and to respond to that need by working to supply appropriate housing. – Yours, etc,