This article is from page 12 of the 2014-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
FURTHER evidence of an impending housing crisis in urban parts of Clare has emerged with Clare Citizens’ Information Service last year recorded a dramatic rise in queries from people worried about becoming homeless.
According to figures obtained from Clare Citizens’ Information Service, nearly 2,500 Clare people experiencing housing difficulty contacted the service in 2013.
With rents on the increase in urban areas such as Ennis and Shannon, fears have been raised that of a surge in families becoming homeless in Clare, as rent supplement is no longer enough to cover rents.
This has prompted the Clare Citizens Information Service and Focus Ireland to team up to launch a new Information Guidebook aimed at tackling home- lessness before it become a widespread problem in the county.
The guidebook, which is entitled ‘A Guide to Information Givers on Preventing Homelessness’ is aimed at helping front line staff to deal with the increasing volume of queries relating to homelessness.
“Citizens Information Services have experienced a surge in the numbers of clients with housing problems related to financial issues.
“In 2013 there were 1287 housing queries to CICs in Clare in addition to 1002 queries related to Rent Supplement.
“The booklet will support information advisors in assisting individuals and families who come to our services who may be homeless or at risk of losing their homes,” said Paul Woulfe of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service.
“The combination of escalating rents, rent allowance caps and unwillingness among many landlords to accept rent supplement, is forcing lower income households out of the housing market.
“However, we know through our work that it’s possible to help families and individuals from losing their home through early intervention and support.
“This new guidebook will play a part in helping efforts to prevent homelessness at a local level nationwide in areas where there is currently no specialty housing advice service.
“Many problems have been associated with the Rent Supplement rent limits set in Budget 2012.
“Primarily they were set at levels that did not enable eligible households to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation.
“Many callers to our centres could not find suitable accommodation within the limits outlined.”