LIMERICK is to pilot a new scheme that will allow families on rent supplement to seek employment without fear of losing their benefits.
The Department of Social Protection rent supplement scheme is to be replaced with a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme administered by the local authorities that will be rolled out in Limerick next month on a voluntary basis.
It is aimed at reforming social housing payments and is targeted at people currently on the rent supplement scheme for over 18 months.
Tenants will source private accommodation themselves, with rent to be paid directly to landlords by the council.
One of the HAP schemes advantages is that it allows tenants to work without losing their rent supplement; instead an adjustment will be made on the payment, taking the tenant’s income into account.
Limerick local authority director of housing, Caroline Curley told last Monday’s monthly County Council meeting that there are around 1,400 eligible to participate in the pilot scheme in the city and county. It was hoped that 300 people will opt to take up the scheme in the coming months.
County manager Conn Murray hailed the pilot scheme as an opportunity for the Limerick local authority to shape Government policy on housing support at the “coalface”. He told council members that they would be reporting back to on issues as they arise to help shape the legislative process before the scheme is rolled out nationwide.
Cllr James Collins (FF) expressed strong reservations about the scheme. He suggested that it would make Limerick County Council responsible for administering the rent supplement scheme payments without giving it the powers to deal effectively with all tenants.
“HAP tenants will not be direct tenants of Limerick County Council and will not be subject to the current local authority pre-tenancy agreements and grievance procedures. Details of a new HAP behaviour clause and how the council will manage anti-social behaviour are very sparse.
“Problem tenants will be the responsibility of the landlord. In such an event, neighbours must again seek a resolution with landlords directly, but the council may not furnish them the landlords details. There are many absent landlords who are proving very difficult to trace. County council’s cannot be part of the housing process but abstain from the solution when anti social problems occur,” he warned.
