Over 500 homeless in Waterford - Halligan

There has been a 60% increase in homelessness in Waterford, where up to 504 people are without a home, Waterford Independent Deputy John Halligan told the Dáil.

Speaking during a debate on a Fianna Fáil motion on social housing, he said he made the point on radio and television stations that 37 people came to his office between Monday and Wednesday recently and 17 were homeless. “We analysed their situation,” he said. “The situation in Waterford is replicated around the country. A mother with one child receives a payment of €475. One could not rent an apartment in Waterford for €475, never mind a two-bedroom house. More and more single mothers are becoming homeless, something that has been acknowledged by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Samaritans and other groups, because they do not have the money to pay for rental accommodation.”

Deputy Halligan said there is an argument that if one increases rent allowance everything else will go up in price. “The amount of money people are given is not sustainable, based on the fact that houses cannot be supplied immediately for them,” he said. “They have no choice but to go into rental accommodation. We have to make rental accommodation affordable or increase payments under the HAP scheme. I know the situation is difficult and there is no easy fix but we have to decide on doing one or the other.”

A significant majority of the current homeless population are single mothers, said Deputy Halligan. “They receive a payment of €475 and may have to wait for a deposit. One should try to rent a two bedroom house or apartment anywhere in the country for €475. It is just not happening.”

The Fianna Fáil motion was defeated by 63 votes to 27.