Labour TD Joanna Tuffy

Stephen O’Brien, in yesterday’s Sunday Times, reported that, according to Labour TD Joanna Tuffy, some homeless charities – specifically Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust – need to ‘step up to the plate’ in relation to the homeless crisis.

Mr O’Brien reported:

Joanna Tuffy, a Labour TD, claimed two of the country’s largest homeless charities, Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust, should be doing more to provide social housing given their capacity and expertise.

The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) has confirmed that just five out of 13 charities registered as approved housing bodies (AHBs) have applied to it for funding. Focus Ireland secured AHB status earlier this year, but has not applied for funding. The Peter McVerry Trust has not applied for AHB status.

“At the risk of agreeing with the taoiseach, funding doesn’t seem to be the problem – there is plenty of money around,” said Barry O’Leary, chief executive of the HFA. “We have facilities to lend up to €500m – €300m for housebuilding, €200m for house purchases. We are open for business, we are very keen to lend, and we can lend European Investment Bank money fixed for 25 years at about 3.25%, which is an absolutely phenomenal offering.”

“…Pat Doyle, chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust, said he was disappointed with Tuffy’s comments. He said the trust is in the process of meeting the HFA’s rigorous requirements for recognition, and is currently buying 55 homes in Dublin using a mixture of commercial finance and business donations.”

“Tuffy said increasing the rent supplement cap – as suggested by Focus and the McVerry Trust – would simply drive rents up further. ‘The issue is supply,’ she said. ‘Some AHBs are stepping up to the plate and borrowing from the Housing Finance Agency to fund social housing, but two major players have been slower than others – Focus Ireland and the McVerry Trust. They are criticising [the government] but they need to step up to the plate themselves. Look at what smaller organisations like Cluid, Tuath and the Oaklee Housing Trust have done.”

In response to the Sunday Times story, Focus Ireland wrote on its Facebook…

Meanwhile outside the Trust Homelessness Services on Bride Road, Dublin 8 this morning…

.@alankellylabour says #homeless problem is “unprecedented”, says more cooperation from local authorities needed pic.twitter.com/Jkr6HHVFRf

— Brian O’Donovan (@BrianODTV3) August 24, 2015

Focus Ireland (Facebook)

Charities not using homeless cash (The Sunday Times)

Trust 

Pic: Rollingnews.ie