Irish Refugee Council: A Place to Call Home Programme
About this good practice
Problem Addressed:
Having access to adequate and affordable housing is often considered a basic need as well as an important component of integration. Adequate housing allows migrants to work, to be in education and to participate in society. However, due to a myriad of factors, migrants may face inequalities in housing tenure and affordability in Ireland.
How Objectives are reached:
Irish Refugee Council’s (IRC) housing programme assists people in overcoming these barriers by providing direct housing support and accommodation. Twenty properties, have been donated to the programme by religious congregations, civil societies and private donors. They are sub-leased to individuals/families, providing them with a secure and affordable tenancy for a guaranteed period. During which the individual or family can avail of further integration supports from the IRC including English language training, education and employment, which assist with deeper integration. After this period of assistance and stability, people are more empowered and better positioned to move independently into the private rental market.
IRC manages the people, process and supports clients across all stages to be housed in the property. IRC has an external property management company to manage the properties donated and they liaise directly with clients regarding rent, facilities and maintenance needs.
Stakeholders: IRC; United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough; St Stephen’s Green Trust; private benefactors.
Resources needed
1 x IRC FTE to manage the ‘A Place to Call Home’ programme; External Management of Properties; Property Maintenance and Legal support for leasing and sub-leasing of properties to tenants. Overall cost of €105k per annum. Rent collected and donations fund these costs.
Evidence of success
Concrete IRC Overall Housing outcomes in 2022 include:
631 people provided with information and advice.
221 housing applications and Housing Assistance Payment paperwork processed.
236 people facing homelessness supported.
48 families who arrived through family reunification supported.
350 people in Direct Provision received orientation on securing accommodation in Ireland.
80 people accommodated in the ‘A Place to Call Home Programme’
4 housing policy submissions made.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Irish Refugee Council’s ‘A Place to Call Home’ programme is successful and could be transferred because the programme empowers refugees and migrants to take ownership of their needs, through understanding the current housing situation in Ireland. IRC showcases: how to complete and prepare the relevant housing application forms and supporting documentation e.g. reference letters, understand how the HAP (housing assistance payment) works and how to submit applications to local authorities in Ireland at every step.
IRC has developed strong connections with Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI), as well as members of the public donating properties for those seeking refuge. Sharing this critical process of the technical provision of housing, building relationships with key supporters and working as a trusted friend of those refugees and migrants seeking assistance at a very challenging time of their life can support other EU regions in their efforts.
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