Sir, – We have heard from the under-35s, currently non-resident citizens, and now from the over-45s who are in living conditions they didn’t expect to be in at their stage of life.
There are many who are in situations that do not suit their circumstances or which they hadn’t envisioned for themselves while, despite working hard and having stayed in Ireland, they also can’t ameliorate their housing situation – whether this is first-time buyers, trading up, or as a result of domestic circumstances changing.
Current rents make it impossible to move yourself on to improved circumstances, which would have been possible 20 years ago, as a stopgap solution. This group is largely forgotten in these discussions and were hugely impacted by the recession and in some cases will continue to feel the impact of that a decade and a half later.
Single buyers are also hugely impacted, it’s just impossible to complete with the potential of two incomes. People spend now and worry about other potential costs such as creche later.
RM Block
In short, it has had an impact on everyone. It’s a global issue – having been in Toronto recently and speaking to a friend living in the Netherlands last week, similar situations exists there too. The global monetising of housing for profit is where the real issues exist, along with persistent supply issues.
[ Owning a home now out of reach, most young people believe – researchOpens in new window ]
Non-resident taxes are used in Canada to limit foreign residential purchases but if you have millions or billions this really isn’t going to be a deterrence. The murkiness of selling and buying houses in Ireland also contributes hugely, having had more one than one estate agent openly show a level of greed that would make Gordon Geko blush, and while you know that’s going on – do you want the property or not? – it pushes prices up further.
I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know all age groups are impacted and some are running out of time. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH BYRNE,
Fairview,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – How can we begin to meet our Lisbon Declaration 2030 target of ending homelessness if we don’t have urgent action plans and resources for single adults?
Nearly two-thirds of the people experiencing homelessness are single adults and yet they are often overlooked in policy priorities.
At Simon Communities of Ireland, we work alongside single adults experiencing homelessness, to ensure their voices are heard in national conversations about ending homelessness.
When will the Government listen and take action? – Yours, etc,
BER GROGAN,
Executive director,
Simon Communities of Ireland,
Dublin 7.
