Fresh Concern In Clare Over HAP Scheme

Fresh concern is emerging in Clare over the government’s Housing Assistance Payment scheme for those with long-term housing needs.

Figures released by the Ministers for Social Protection and Housing appeared to suggest a fall in the number of people in Clare receiving a rent supplement but this has led to some confusion among members of the county’s Housing Committee.

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Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy have outlined the number of people, by county, on two housing schemes.

According to the latest available figures, 63 people in Clare were receiving rent supplement at the end of September, down from 98 in March.

While, the number of people on the Rental Accommodation Scheme in Clare, which is aimed at those with long-term housing needs, rose from 373 to 394 in that period.

This would appear to suggest that while short-term supports are on a downward trend, the need for help in the longer term is increasing.

However, the Housing Assistance Payment began to roll out here four years ago, to replace the rent supplement and Chair of Clare’s Housing Committee, Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn, says there appears to be an element of confusion at play.

In a statement to Clare FM, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed it is expected that the vast majority of people who have long term housing needs and are receiving Rent Supplement support will have transferred to HAP by the end of December 2020.

However, despite HAP running in this county since 2015 there is still concern about how effective the scheme is.

Ennis Sinn Féin Representative Tommy Guilfoyle, who is also a member of the Housing Committee, says it’s not fit for purpose.

Statement

Minister Doherty was referring to Rent Supplement in the answer referenced.
Rent Supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.
In the past, Rent Supplement was available to people who qualified for social housing support and were on the local authority’s housing list. This has been replaced by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all Local Authorities since March 2017 (since June 2015 in Co Clare).
HAP aims to offer all social housing supports to be accessed through the local authorities and to enable people to take up full-time employment and keep their housing support.
It is expected that the vast majority of people who have long term housing needs and are receiving Rent Supplement support will have transferred to HAP by the end of December 2020.  Rent Supplement will continue to provide temporary income support to those who require assistance with their rental commitments.

HAP was introduced in Co Clare in June 2015 – Rent Supplement recipients at that date were approximately 1,300. At the end of September 2019 there were 63 recipients of Rent Supplement in Co Clare, compared to 1,400 recipients of HAP for the same period.