| Frequently
Asked Questions
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Access to Housing
Homeless in Dublin
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FAQ’s Access to Housing
You must fill in a Housing
Application Form with the Local Authority/ Council.
The Local Authority will carry out a Housing Needs
Assessment. You will be awarded points. Unless you
have very exceptional circumstances surrounding
you application you may expect to wait years
for an offer of housing. Check with Local
Authority to find out number of points required
in the area of your choice.
Rent Allowance is an income
support provided by the Department of Social &
Family Affairs to assist towards the cost of your
monthly rent when you are renting from a private
landlord. You may apply to the Community Welfare
Officer in the local Health Centre for assistance
with your rent if you are working for less than
30 hours per week, and/or are in receipt of a Social
Welfare payment, and/or are on an approved training
or education scheme. See www.welfare.ie/foi/swa
- How
do I get Rent Allowance/ Supplement
You must register as having
a housing need with the Local Authority. Your landlord
must agree to accept Rent Supplement and must fill
in the Rent Supplement form SWA3. This form is available
from you local health centre. You may apply to the
Community Welfare Officer in the local area for
assessment for eligibility for rent supplement.
- What
are the rates July 2008
Single person in self
contained unit - €563 per month
Single person
in shared accommodation - €425 per month
Couple in
self contained accommodation €800 per month
Parent /
Couple with one child €1000
per month
Parent /
Couple with 2 or more children €1200
per month
- Am
I entitled to a deposit?
You
may apply for a deposit from the Community Welfare
Officer at your local health centre. A deposit is
not an entitlement. The amount depends on you family
size and circumstances and is subject to a limit.
Check with local CWO.
- My
landlord has refused to give me my deposit back.
A
landlord can only withhold your deposit if you are
in rent arrears, or if you have damaged the property
and it is in need of repair. If you are in dispute
about a landlord withholding your deposit you may
contact Threshold, or Crosscare Housing & Welfare
Information. See Crosscare Map of Homeless Services
for futher information www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
To find out more about Tenants Rights contact
www.threshold.ie
- I
am in arrears. What can I do?
You need to discuss your
arrears with your landlord and try negotiate a repayment
scheme. If you are on low income or in receipt of
a social welfare payment you may be able to apply
to Community Welfare at your local Health Centre
for additional support. Contact Crosscare Housing
& Welfare Information for further information.
- I
am having difficulties in my accommodation and
am in danger of eviction.
There are a range of support agencies that can
assist you with your difficulties. Contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information for further information.
- My
landlord has asked me to leave my private rented
accommodation.
If you are
in private rented accommodation and your tenancy
has lasted more than 6 months your landlord may
only ask you to leave for a number of reasons. If
you tenancy is less than 6 months the Landlord does
not have to give a reason. In both cases you are
entitled to be served with proper notice in writing.
For further information go to www.threshold.ie
. Contact Threshold / Crosscare Housing &
Welfare Information for further information &
support.
- I
have received a letter from the Local Authority
accusing my family involvement in anti social
behaviour.
Do not ignore this letter.
If they have requested a meeting make sure to go
to put your case on record. Seek further advice
and support as soon as possible. Being evicted from
Local Authority housing will have very serious consequences
for your future housing options. Contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information as soon as possible.
There are supports available.
- I
am considering giving up the keys of my Local
Authority accommodation.
Giving up your keys will have very serious consequences
for your future housing options. It will affect
your future access to other Local Authority housing
and housing in the private rented sector. Contact
Crosscare Housing & Welfare Information for
further information & support as soon as possible.
There are supports available.
This is a form of social
housing. It can be provided by a voluntary housing
association or a housing association in partnership
with the Local Authority. In order apply for voluntary
housing a person must be registered with the Local
Authority. Contact Crosscare Housing & Welfare
Information for further information.
This is the Rental Accommodation Scheme. It is
a form of social housing provided through partnership
with the Local Authority and private landlords.
In order to apply for the RAS a person must meet
a number of criteria. This usually includes being
in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months. The
applicant must attend for interview with the Local
Authority. If accepted onto the RAS a person will
pay a differential rent to the Local Authority based
on their income much the same as any person in Local
Authority accommodation. Go to www.environ.ie
for further information.
FAQ’S
HOMELESSNESS IN DUBLIN
• I am newly homeless.
Phone the HSE Homeless
Persons Unit (HPU) free phone number, 1800 724 724
for details about clinic times and whereabouts.
Call to their office where a Community Welfare Officer
will carry out an assessment of your situation.
They may assist you with emergency accommodation
& a social welfare payment or give you further
advice on what you need to do. Contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information at 01 8726775
for further information and support. See Crosscare
Map of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for a wide range of services available in the
City Centre.
• I am homeless in Dublin
. I have nowhere to stay tonight.
Phone the Homeless Persons Unit (HPU) free phone
on 1800 724 724. This help line is open from 10am
– 2am. Your call will be answered by a Community
Welfare Officer (CWO) from the HPU. Explain your
situation. They may organise accommodation for you
that night either directly or through the Dublin
City Council Night Bus. They will ask you to call
into one of their offices the next day. See Crosscare
Map of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for locations of HPU offices. Contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information at 01 8726775
for further information and support
• I have no fixed address.
Can I get a social welfare payment?
Yes. You can apply for a payment through the Homeless
Person Unit. Call 1800 724 724 and they will direct
you to the relevant office. A Community Welfare
Officer (CWO) will assess your situation and may
award you a Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA).
This is the same amount as other basic social welfare
payments. Currently €197.80 per week (07-08). Bring
ID and your PPSN if possible. See Crosscare Map
of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for locations of HPU offices. If you experience
difficulties contact Crosscare Housing & Welfare
Information for further assistance.
• Do I need to stay in a hostel
order to continue to receive a payment from the
HPU.
No. You will be advised to
link in regularly with homeless service and provide
proof of this when called for a review. See Crosscare
Map of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for a wide range of services available in the
City Centre.
• Do I need to register with
the Local Authority as homeless in order to continue
to receive a payment from the HPU.
No. It is not possible
to register with the local authority as homeless
unless you are staying in a hostel or other recognised
homeless accommodation. You may continue to receive
a payment if you link in with other homeless services
and make efforts to address your homelessness. See
Crosscare Map of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for a wide range of services available in the
City Centre.
• My weekly SWA payment is
not in the post office.
The HPU grants homeless
persons payments. Your payment is subject to review.
Occasionally, weekly payments may not be available
at your usual post office. This is to prompt you
to make contact with the HPU. If this happens contact
the HPU or call to Crosscare Housing & Welfare
Information for further assistance. See Crosscare
Map of Homeless Services at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
for HPU contact details.
•
Am I entitled to a Clothing Grant?
No. There
is no such thing as a ‘clothing grant’. You may
apply for financial assistance towards clothing
through your Community Welfare Officer (CWO). This
is an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP). It is granted
at the discretion of the CWO.
•
Where can I get something to eat?
There are food centres around
Dublin City Centre that offer good food at low to
no cost. Food centres are open to all members of
the community. See Crosscare Map of Homeless Services
at www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
• I have no GP. Can I get
access to health care?
People who have no fixed
address can apply for a medical card.
Some homeless
services have a medical service on site where you
can see a nurse for medical difficulties. Some of
these services also have a limited GP. Homeless
people can see the GP without a medical card. Call
to Crosscare Housing & Welfare Information or
see Crosscare Map of Homeless Service for further
information. www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
• I am having difficulties
at home and have been told to leave.
There
are services that may assist you in this difficult
period. Contact Crosscare Housing & Welfare
Information for further information on 01 8726775
or see Crosscare Map of Homeless Service for other
supports www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
• I am having problems in
my private rented / Council accommodation.
Do not
ignore complaints made by your land lord or the
local authority. The sooner you make efforts to
address these issues the more likely it is that
you will hold onto your accommodation. Contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information for further information
on 01 8726775 or see Crosscare Map of Homeless Service
- Homeless & Housing Advice for other services
that may assist you www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
• I am years on the homeless
list with the Council. When can I expect to be
housed?
In order
to remain on the Homeless List you must contact
the Local Authority every 4 weeks. If you do not,
you will be taken off the list. Each Dublin Local
Authority pledges to assign a certain amount of
it s allocations to those on the homeless list.
In most cases, unless you are actively engaging
with services it is unlikely you will be considered
for housing. For further information contact Crosscare
Housing & Welfare Information on 01 8726775
or see Crosscare Map of Homeless Service - Homeless
& Housing Advice www.crosscare.ie/housingandwelfare
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