A new Simon Communities report reveals severe shortages in Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) accommodation across Ireland, with several major urban centers reporting zero available properties within HAP limits.
The December 2023 “Locked Out of the Market” study found only 46 properties available within discretionary HAP rates across 16 surveyed areas, marking a modest 10% increase from September. Major cities including Cork, Galway, and Limerick reported no HAP-eligible properties in their city centers, while towns like Sligo, Portlaoise, and Athlone faced similar shortages.
According to The Journal, total rental properties available at any price reached 1,233, up 7% from the previous period. However, half of the surveyed areas had no properties available within standard or discretionary HAP limits. Portlaoise recorded the lowest availability with just three properties, while Athlone and Cork City suburbs experienced decreases in available units.
Simon Communities’ Interim Executive Director Tony Geoghegan emphasized the “stark” findings, noting particularly severe challenges outside Dublin. He highlighted how the private rental sector, once a primary route out of homelessness, no longer serves this function effectively.
The report underscores a growing crisis in Ireland’s rental market, particularly affecting those dependent on housing assistance, with Geoghegan calling for a dedicated homeless prevention strategy to address private rental sector issues.