The charity responds to Daft.ie’s latest Rental Price Report for Q2 2019
The Simon Communities in Ireland have said that figures released today from the Daft.ie 2019 Q2 Rental Report highlights a critical lack of affordable accommodation in the private rental sector.
Rents rose nationwide by an average of 6.7% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2019, with particularly high increases in urban areas. In Limerick the increase was 10.5%; in Galway the increase was 9.1%; in Waterford it was 10%; in Dublin the increase was 4.5%, and in Cork the increase was 7.9%. However, practically all areas across the country are impacted, the new report shows. Outside the five main cities, rents rose by an average of 9.2%. Rental availability is at critically low levels, with just 2,700 homes available to rent nationwide on May 1st, the lowest total ever recorded in a series dating back to 2006. Reacting to the new report, the Simon Communities said it is clear the rental market is not capable of delivering the housing now needed, given the scale of the current crisis.
Wayne Stanley, spokesperson for the Simon Communities, said that the report again shows the inability of the private rental sector, in its current form, to provide adequate, affordable homes for all.
“People are being negatively affected by this housing crisis every day, not least the 10,172 men, women and children now forced to live in emergency accommodation. This report again illustrates the high rents and plummeting supply within the private rented sector which are preventing people from finding affordable and secure places to live.
“Housing is a part of our social and economic infrastructure, in the same way that public transport, roads, broadband and hospitals are. As such, it is critical to provide homes for those experiencing homelessness and to prevent homelessness in the cases where individuals and families are currently at risk. Simply put, this Daft report is further evidence that we need Government to act to increase the supply of affordable accommodation.”
The Simon Communities in Ireland deliver support, housing, homeless and treatment services to over 13,000 people and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
For media queries and interview requests
Liam Corcoran,
Communications and Campaigns Officer,
Simon Communities of Ireland.
Tel: 085 806 5141
Email: communications@simoncommunity.com
About Simon Communities
The Simon Communities support over 13,000 men, women and children. We have 50 years of experience providing homeless, housing and treatment services to people facing the trauma and stress of homelessness. We are a network of independent Communities based in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, the Midlands, the Mid West, the North West and the South East, responding to local needs and supported by a National Office in the areas of policy, research, communications and best practice. We share common values and ethos in tackling homelessness and, informed by our grassroots services, we campaign for more effective policies and legislation regionally, nationally and at European level. Whatever the issue, Simon’s door is always open for as long as we are needed. For more information, please visit www.simon.ie.
Services include:
- Homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment and resettlement.
- Street outreach, emergency accommodation and harm reduction.
- Housing with support and Housing First services.
- Homeless specific health and wellbeing services (counselling; addiction treatment and recovery; and mental health supports).
- Personal development, education, training and employment services.
- Food banks, drop-in centres and soup runs.
