Mayo's modest income families 'abandoned' due to housing scheme rebuff

Mayo has not been included in the five local authority areas that will see an increase in the thresholds for income limits for social housing next month.

Move described as ‘abandoning modest income families’ in Mayo by Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh.

She said: “Excluding Mayo and many other counties from expanding social housing eligibility is just not good enough.

"The government is effectively abandoning families on modest incomes.

“The income thresholds for social housing means that a couple with two children earning €27,500 a month are not eligible for support.

"This means that a couple who are paid the minimum wage will far exceed the income threshold for social housing.

“I am dealing with a family with four small children, one of whom has special needs. They are renting in the private sector and received an eviction notice for early October.

"They went immediately to the council to apply for social housing. The dad is working full-time on a low salary and the family is in receipt of Working Family Payment (formerly FIS).

“The dad’s salary is deemed too low for them to live on, but the additional Working Family Payment means they are earning over the income threshold for social housing.

"Now they are in a Catch-22 situation – another working family who will be homeless in four week’s time.

“Income thresholds to access social housing have not been increased in over 10 years.

"Large numbers of people are being cut off social housing lists after many years or are unable to get on the lists.

"This is happening at a time when private rents and house prices are rising.

“The reason for this is a cynical attempt by the government to reducing waiting lists for housing support by excluding more and more people irrespective of the real hardship that their inaction will cause.

“Last year, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien announced a review of the limits. It was completed in December. The Minister must publish this document.

“Mayo has been repeatedly overlooked in the government’s response to the housing crisis.

“Mayo has no areas designated as rent pressure zones that would limit rent increases despite the severe rent hikes we have seen in towns like Westport.

“Mayo has also been excluded from the affordable housing scheme because the Minister claims that we do not have an affordable housing need.

"Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens are completely out of touch with the housing reality in Mayo."