Author
As mentioned above, it should be noted that the definition of “recipient” for the purposes of benefiting from entitlements under the Reception Conditions Regulations 2018 does not cover beneficiaries of international protection, or those on deportation orders.
The main source of accommodation is social (public) housing or private rental accommodation. Local authorities are the main providers of social housing but people need to be on housing lists, which can take a considerable amount of time.
According to the Minister of State, David Stanton ‘Once some form of status is granted, residents cease to be ordinarily entitled to the accommodation supports provided through RIA. Notwithstanding this fact, RIA have always continued to provide such persons with continued accommodation until they secure their own private accommodation. IPAS are particularly mindful of the reality of the housing situation in the State and the pressures on the Community Welfare Service in respect of Rent Supplement or the City and County Councils in respect of Housing Assistance Payments and Housing Lists. The Government is committed to ensuring that persons who are availing of State provided accommodation, including those who have come to Ireland under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, are supported in sourcing and securing private accommodation.[1]
Difficulties exist for beneficiaries on accessing housing once status is granted as there is currently a housing crisis in Ireland, which affects Irish citizens and international protection applicants alike. This means that beneficiaries have difficulty leaving Direct Provision and finding suitable housing. This is exacerbated by the accommodation crisis in Ireland, where waiting lists for social housing are long and rental costs exceed the amounts paid in rent supplements.[2] Discrimination and racism is also reported in the rental market.[3]
The situation for beneficiaries of international protection who are finding difficulty obtaining independent accommodation exacerbates the concurrent lack of capacity in Direct Provision centres. As of November 2021, there were 1,640 persons with some form of protection status residing in Direct Provision.[4] As of October 2022, there were 4, 625 persons with some form of status residing in Direct Provision.[5]
In September 2017, RIA (now IPAS) began issuing letters to cohorts of (predominantly single male) refugees living in Direct Provision who had received final decisions on their case (both those with positive decision on refugee status and subsidiary protection and those with a deportation order) but had not been able to source alternative accommodation. The letter stated that RIA had ‘no role in the provision of accommodation to persons once a decision has been made on their application’ and asking them to vacate the centres within a month.[6] This prompted backlash from a number of NGOs such as Nasc, who stated the letters represent “a catastrophic shift in policy, which will actively make those on deportation orders that have not been effected by the State at severe risk of homelessness and destitution.”[7] In response, the Department of Justice cited reduced capacity of Direct Provision centres as an explanation for the letters and drew a distinction from those who were awaiting a decision on their international protection application and those who were on deportation orders stating that “[c]ontinuing to allocate limited accommodation to people who are legally obliged to remove themselves from the State would undermine our laws and adversely impact our capacity to assist those who are seeking refugee status. At current rate of demand, accommodation capacity in the Centres will run out for all applicants within a number of weeks unless remedial action is taken.”[8]
In January 2023, persons living at particular Direct Provision Centres, whereby points or vouchers are issued to residents to cover the cost associated with purchasing groceries, were advised by IPAS that any resident who had obtained international protection status or permission to remain in Ireland and remained living in IPAS accommodation for a period of 8 weeks or more, would have their points or vouchers revoked. Residents were advised that this new policy would be rolled out on a phased basis and persons affected would be provided with 8 weeks’ notice prior to their points being removed.[9]
Due to the ongoing housing crisis in Ireland, as well as already over-subscribed homelessness centres, emergency accommodation and support, there is a real risk that without transitional support, forcing people to leave Direct Provision could result in long-term homelessness and/or destitution.
The Department of Justice has a specific team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Peter McVerry Trust, officials in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the City and County Managers Association to collectively support residents with status or permission to remain to access housing options. By the end of 2019, a total of 732 people transitioned out of accommodation centres, of which 500 did with the assistance of the services and support mentioned above.[10] Figures for 2020, 2021 and 2022 were not available at the time of updating.
In April 2019 the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government released a document titled: Social Housing and HAP Supports Available to Assist Households In Direct Provision Who Have Been Granted “Leave To Remain” And Are Eligible For Social Housing. The paper confirms that people leaving Direct Provision are entitled to ‘Homeless Housing Assistance Payment’ which gives additional supports such as access to a deposit, advance rent and a discretionary 20% addition to the existing HAP rent. The Department also released, in partnership with the City and County Managers Association and IPAS, a document titled ‘Information paper on supporting people with status/leave to remain’ which contained information on how people will receive assistance to leave Direct Provision.[11]
In the experience of the Irish Refugee Council, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions resulted in significant obstacles to securing housing for beneficiaries of international protection. Restrictions on the operation of local authorities and administrative bodies have resulted in delays in the processing of social housing applicants and entry on to housing lists. This in turn impedes individuals’ ability to access Housing Assistant Payment (HAP) and ultimately, secure housing. Caseworkers have noted, however, that the pandemic has positively impacted the availability of housing for beneficiaries of international protection in that a decrease in demand for rental property has opened up the market significantly for HAP tenants.
[1] Response to Parliamentary Question by Minister for State David Stanton, 26 January 2017, available at: http://bit.ly/2lBeDgu.
[2] For further information, see Irish Research Council in partnership with the Irish Refugee Council, Transition from Direct Provision to life in the community, June 2016, available at: https://bit.ly/2AlwPTX.
[3] The Journal, Ignored at viewings because they’re black or Asian: Dozens of asylum seekers facing homelessness, 24 February 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2H4SBwo; See also: Dublin Inquirer, Some ex-asylum seekers say they’re stuck In Direct Provision because Dublin landlords won’t accept them, 30 September 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3jW2JZX.
[4] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’ Gorman, Response to Parliamentary Question No 466, 14 December 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3G553Il.
[5] Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, Parliamentary Question No 408, 6 December 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/41RoiJU.
[6] Irish Times, ‘Asylum seekers facing deportation given a month to leave hostels’, 20 September 2017, available at: http://bit.ly/2CpLN6Q.
[7] Nasc, ‘Nasc Condemns Proposed Eviction of Asylum Seekers from Direct Provision’, 20 September 2017, available at: https://bit.ly/2TQJtRR.
[8] Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality David Stanton, Response to Parliamentary Question No 182, 25 October 2017, available at: http://bit.ly/2Bk1M5B.
[9] Information provided by IPAS, January 2023.
[10] Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, David Stanton, Reply to Parliamentary Question No 278, 3 December 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/3bTO7pi.
[11] These documents are not currently available online.