Clare County Council says its delivery targets are likely to be reduced, following a drop in numbers on the social housing list.
There are currently over 2,500 people seeking housing assistance in this county, but a change in the way the housing need is calculated, means only 1,047 of them are now on the housing list.
The local authority says it will now focus on areas of high demand as Clare FM’s Michelle Mac Mullen reports:
There are currently 2,535 people seeking housing assistance in Clare; 1,380 of those are living in private rented accommodation under the HAP and RAS schemes.
These people have indicated that they are happy to remain in such accommodation and have been removed from the social housing list, as part of the 2018 Social Housing Need Assessment.
That leaves 1,047 people in need of a home and while Clare County Council says delivery targets are now likely to be reduced, it’s focusing on the supply of future housing in areas of high demand.
Ennis has the highest demand, where 476 homes are required. In Shannon, there’s a need for an additional 131 homes, with 134 sought in the Ennistymon/Lahinch and Kilrush areas.
A further 224 people need homes in the Killaloe, Clarecastle, Newmarket on Fergus, Kilkee, Sixmilebridge and Scarriff areas.
In addition, there are currently 73 adults and 49 children living in emergency accommodation in Clare and an additional 13 men being accommodated in Laurel Lodge Hostel.
The local authority says its on track towards achieving its targets for the coming two years and is progressing plans for housing schemes in the Clonlara, Ennis, Quilty, Feakle, Shannon, and Corofin areas.
These developments will bring a further 176 units on stream between 2019 and 2021.
While, in June, the Council advertised for ‘Expressions of Interest’ for property or land in areas of housing demand and a number which may yield social housing units have been received.
