Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
84. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a situation in which those in receipt of the housing assistance payment who enter residential rehabilitation or detox treatment must inform the local authority they will not be staying there for a period of over three weeks and are often at risk of losing their HAP payment and thus becoming homeless. [55075/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. The HAP scheme is legislated for under Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. Consistent with the provisions in section 46 of the 2014 Act, once approved for HAP, the local authority will expect the HAP tenant to stay in the same property for at least two years.
Under the scheme, HAP tenants are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme.
The rent contribution agreement states that “The HAP Claimant agrees to notify the local authority if the property will be vacant for a period of more than two weeks”. Local authorities should consider such notifications on a case by case basis, including where there is a need for the HAP tenant to go into hospital or into a treatment facility for addiction issues.
The day-to-day operation of the social housing system is a matter for the relevant local authority, and ultimately, it is the responsibility of the local authority, while taking a compassionate approach, to make a decision in each individual case.
