A HOMELESS charity has said the Government is poised to miss a vital opportunity to use the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) to meet the housing needs of thousands of vulnerable people.
Focus Ireland has argued that some of the empty apartments and houses which come into State ownership through Nama could be used to provide homes for an estimated 60,000 households.
The charity has expressed disappointment the draft legislation for the agency published last week did not contain any mention of the “social value” of the houses and building land which it will control.
“We proposed that Nama should be given the power to undertake a ‘land and housing management strategy’ to ensure residential property or land that becomes the legal property of Nama could be put to social use to meet the growing housing need in Ireland,” said Focus Ireland’s director of advocacy, Mike Allen.
“We would now urge the Government – and all interested parties – to ensure the key question of Nama delivering a real social dividend forms a key part of the debate on this issue over the summer months.”
Such a housing strategy, the charity argues, could prevent dereliction and “provide homes of the right type, in the right locations, that are integrated with other infrastructure and services”, and built in accordance with county and city development plans.
A 2008 housing needs assessment identified nearly 60,000 households in need of social housing. Homeless charities estimate this need is likely to have increased given the impact of the economic downturn.
In a statement, Focus Ireland said the introduction of Nama provided an opportunity to actively assemble land for future housing purposes, which will allow for planned development.
It recommends that those responsible for devising and developing the strategy should be based in the Department of the Environment and the objective of generating a “social dividend” must be explicitly stated in legislation.
“The draft legislation makes not a single mention of the word ‘social’ and gives no role to local authorities, which are meant to be the lead agency in planning homes and communities,” the charity said. “It is vital for the Government to ensure ordinary people benefit from what emerges from the Nama, as they will be paying for this rescue through their taxes for many years to come.”
