Not for the first time in recent Irish history, a sense of crisis pervades the affordable housing market. The mission statement for the state, through its social housing policy, is to ensure that every household has accommodation of a reasonable standard, at a price that is affordable and in a place that reflects personal choice. But the efforts of successive governments continue to disappoint.
As Ireland emerges from a decade of recession and housing collapse, what sort of social housing policy is required? This book looks at the options available to the state as it seeks to devise a social housing policy capable of meeting the needs of a dynamic economy with a rapidly growing population. With public debate focussed on the amount of available public funding and the level of output needed to address an acute shortage of affordable accommodation, it is easy to lose sight of the wider reforms needed within the supported housing sectors. As this book argues it is not just about money – it is about the objectives and direction of housing policy.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Foreword
List of Figures and Tables
Abbreviations
PART I Historical and Institutional Context
Chapter 1 Introduction: The Importance of Social Housing Policy
Chapter 2 Looking in the Rear-View Mirror
Chapter 3 Social Housing in a Comparative Context
Chapter 4 Social Housing Policy: The Emerging Critique
PART II Social Housing at the Crossroads
Chapter 5 A Framework for Social Housing Policy
Chapter 6 The Demand for Housing
Chapter 7 Housing Need
Chapter 8 Housing Policy: Alternative Pathways
PART III The Reform Agenda
Chapter 9 Access to Housing Services
Chapter 10 Social Housing: Investment and Supply Channels
Chapter 11 Needs Assessment and the Allocation of Social Housing Support
Chapter 12 Rent Policy and Differential Rents
Chapter 13 Management and Maintenance of Social Housing
Chapter 14 Exit Strategies and Succession
Chapter 15 Sustainable Communities
Chapter 16 Regulation of the Rental Housing Market
PART IV Managing Change
Chapter 17 Institutional Change: Transforming Social Housing
Chapter 18 Conclusion and Future Directions
Bibliography
Index