Respond, an Approved Housing Body (AHB) and service provider, has been working all around Ireland for over 40 years. Our vision is that every family and individual in Ireland will have high‐quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community. 17,008 tenants live in 7,761 homes across the 26 counties that we either own or manage. Respond also provide a range of services for families and individuals within our communities. This includes emergency accommodation with 24/7 support for families who are homeless in six Family Homeless Services, three Day Care Services for Older People, 15 Early Learning and School Aged Care (ELSAC), Family Support and Refugee Resettlement services. Our aim is to provide person centred services to support people to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Respond wishes to contract a consultant, or organisation to develop an organisation wide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy and Implementation Plan.  As a construction led Approved Housing Body (AHB) and service provider, we are keen to understand our impact in relation to ESG practices. Our activities are wide ranging from capital investments in building homes; placemaking and communities; undertaking planned works to invest in the maintenance and management of our homes and community buildings; to delivering community based services. We are keen to implement an organisation-wide strategy / programme that both fulfils our statutory and regulatory obligations as well as, takes us on a journey of improvement by setting ambitious yet achievable goals over 3-5 years.

This is an open invitation to tender, seeking applications from suitably qualified individuals, teams and partnerships who can bring their expertise, skills and experience in the field of ESG and strategic business planning and a proven track record of developing similar ESG programmes and implementation plans for businesses. You must demonstrate how you will tailor your approach to Respond’s specific, yet wide ranging business activities of delivering social and affordable housing and services across a range of sectors as outlined in the tender document.

The indicative budget to develop the evaluation framework is €50,000 (incl. VAT).

The deadline for receiving submissions is by 1pm on 24^th April 2024.

Full details on the requirements of the tender and the process for submitting proposals are contained in the tender document that can be found at the link below. If you would like any further information, please contact Reyhana Cushnan, Policy Manager by email to: reyhana.cushnan@respond.ie.

Read more about it here.

On Brigid’s Bank Holiday, February 6^th, Respond’s Refugee Resettlement programme in County Clare came together with other local Clare organisations to organise an intercultural event. The event brought together communities from across the county to share cultural performances, dance, music and storytelling. The event was held on St. Brigid’s bank holiday because of what the day represents. The day has its origins in the Celtic festival of Imbolc, it was the festival of fertility and marked the beginning of spring in Ireland. The celebration represented light, new beginnings and prosperity for the year ahead.

There were excellent performances by musicians from Nepal, South African, members of the Travelling Community, the Ukrainian community and many other local artists. A selection of homemade cakes from Syrian, Afghanistan and Ukraine were available to sample in the foyer. These were all made by the families on the programme and by some of the Ukrainian community in Clare. The cakes were enjoyed with some lovely Syrian and Afghan tea. The cake stall was such a success that some families are looking into joining the local market to set up their own stalls.

Local artist Aine O’Brein created a giant nest which could be found in the foyer of the venue. The nest represented hope, safety and home. Aine chose to make a nest for us all to collectively welcome new people into our community and invite them to build a home here. Everyone was invited to write a wish for their future on a ribbon and tie it to the nest. There were also local trad musicians playing in the foyer and a constant queue of children waiting to get their faces painted. There was a lively and excited atmosphere throughout the day.

The event sold out with over 500 people in attendance. It really highlighted the vibrant and diverse culture we have in County Clare and Respond were delighted to be part of it. It also gave the families on the resettlement programme an opportunity to enjoy Irish music and culture, and meet new people in the community.

Date: 10.08.2020

As we have continued our work in new circumstances, the health and safety of our staff, tenants and services users has remained our first priority.  Our staff have continued to  deliver our services observing all public health protocols to reduce risk. We are very proud to work alongside them.

Due to the latest local restrictions in Kildare, Offaly and Laois, we will be providing essential work services only. We urge our tenants across Ireland but particularly in these areas to take care and keep safe. Please contact our Customer Service Centre on 01-8087700 for assistance or more information.

We would like to acknowledge and thank our tenants, service users, stakeholders and partners and staff for all of the support and co-operation we have received as we all continue to play our part during this difficult time.

The following health and safety measures remain in place:

• Receptions areas are closed.
• No visitors will be accepted to any of our offices that share premises with homeless services.
• All staff who can work remotely are now doing so.
• Our Customer Service Centre is operating remotely for any assistance tenants may require.
• We are in regular contact with our tenants.
• Our Homeless Services remain operational given we are providing emergency accommodation plus 24/7 support.  We have adapted our practice based on public health advice to reduce risk including:
  • Facilities for hand washing and sanitising have been increased.
  • Social distancing guidelines (2m) are being communicated and enforced.
  • Additional deep cleaning of all premises is taking place on a more frequent basis.
  • Staff on duty are working in separate rooms and having face-to-face contact only when absolutely necessary.
  • Signage is updated as often as the HSE updates their guidelines and is issued to services as soon as it is circulated by the HSE.

Again, please continue to call our Customer Service Centre for any assistance you may require.

Thank you for your support.

Take care and stay safe.

One of our newest social housing properties was the front page feature of the Irish Times Home and Design supplement today. Journalist Deirdre Falvey visited one of our newest projects in Mountjoy Square and met some of our new tenants.

The 200 year old building is located in one of five Georgian squares in Dublin, and lies on the north side of the city centre just under a kilometre from the River Liffey. The square’s own park has both playing areas for football, basketball and table tennis, playgrounds for children and a green park area. Situated close to the centre of Dublin city and the major artery Gardiner Street to its West side, Mountjoy Square boasts considerable transport links in its immediate locality. It’s also a short walk to the Blessington Basin in Broadstone.

The first phase of tenants moved in at the beginning of this year and the next phase will be moving in over the coming weeks. The building provides 31 homes for tenants.

You can read the article yourself here.

COVID 19 Update

Date: 24 April 2020

We would like to acknowledge and thank our tenants, service users, stakeholders and partners and staff for all of the support and co-operation we have received as we all continue to play our part during this difficult time.

Along with others all across the country, we are continuing our new work practices. Our tenants, service users and partners have adapted to these new norms, as have our dedicated staff and our teams are working in collaboration around the country to address to this crisis.

The health and safety of our staff, tenants and services users has remained our top priority. We are continuing to monitor and act on all public health advice. Staff across various departments in Respond who can are remote working. Our frontline staff, as essential workers, continue to deliver services observing all public health protocols to reduce risk. Our frontline staff in services are doing all they can to help and support the people and families using our services during this challenging time. Our Housing Team are linking with our tenants around the country particularly reaching out to those who are elderly or more vulnerable. We are very appreciative and proud to work alongside them.

We have implemented the following health and safety measures:

• Receptions areas are closed.
• No visitors will be accepted to any of our offices that share premises with homeless services.
• All staff who can work remotely are now doing so.
• Our Customer Service Centre is operating remotely for any assistance tenants may require.
• We are in regular contact with our tenants.
• Staff will only carry out necessary home or site visits.
• Early Childhood Care and Education services are closed.
• Day-care for Older People services are closed but staff are checking in with service users and preparing and delivering daily meals for them.
• Ongoing liaison continues with our statutory partners in the Health Services Executive (HSE), the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Local Authorities, the Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) etc.
• Our Homeless Services remain operational given we are providing emergency accommodation plus 24/7 support.  We have adapted our practice based on public health advice to reduce risk including:
  • Facilities for hand washing and sanitising have been increased.
  • Social distancing guidelines (2m) are being communicated and enforced.
  • Additional deep cleaning of all premises is taking place on a more frequent basis.
  • Staff on duty are working in separate rooms and having face-to-face contact only when absolutely necessary.
  • Signage is updated as often as the HSE updates their guidelines and is issued to services as soon as it is circulated by the HSE.

Please continue to call our Customer Service Centre for any assistance you may require.

Thank you for your support.

Take care and stay safe.

Date: 17 April 2020

This week, along with everyone else across the country, we have continued our new work practices. Thanks to our amazing staff who continue to support and work with our tenants, service users and partners. So much great work is happening in our teams around the country who are coming together with our partners to address to this crisis. Our frontline staff in homeless services are doing all they can to help and support families using our services during this challenging time. Our Housing Team are linking with our tenants around the country particularly reaching out to those who are elderly or more vulnerable. We are very appreciative and proud to work alongside them.

The health and safety of our employees, tenants and services users has remained our top priority. We are continuing to monitor and act on the public health advice. All staff across various departments in Respond who can are remote working. Our frontline staff, as essential workers, continue to deliver services observing all public health protocols to reduce risk.

Our Response

We have the following safety measures are in place:

• Receptions areas are closed.
• No visitors will be accepted to any of our offices that share premises with homeless services.
• All staff who can work remotely are now doing so.
• Our Customer Service Centre is operating remotely for any assistance tenants may require.
• We are in regular contact with our tenants.
• Staff will not be carrying out unnecessary home or site visits.
• Early Childhood Care and Education services are closed.
• Day-care for Older People services are closed but staff are checking in with service users and preparing and delivering daily meals for them.
• Ongoing liaison continues with our statutory partners in the Health Services Executive (HSE), the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Local Authorities, the Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) etc.
• Our Homeless Services remain operational given we are providing emergency accommodation plus 24/7 support.  We have adapted our practice based on public health advice to reduce risk including:
• Facilities for hand washing and sanitising have been increased.
• Social distancing guidelines (2m) are being communicated and enforced.
• Additional deep cleaning of all premises is taking place on a more frequent basis.
• Staff on duty are working in separate rooms and having face-to-face contact only when absolutely necessary.
• Signage is updated as often as the HSE updates their guidelines and is issued to services as soon as it is circulated by the HSE.

Please continue to call our Customer Service Centre for any assistance you may require.

Thank you

We would also like to publicly acknowledge with thanks the support and co-operation we have received from our tenants, service users, stakeholders and partners as we all continue to play our part.

Take care and stay safe.

Date 27th March

It is now more than two weeks since the Government introduced steps to deal with the COVID 19 crisis. Respond have adapted and worked hard to adopt the Government and public health advisories. The health and safety of our employees, tenants and services users has remained our top priority. Staff across various departments in Respond are remote working where possible and we have systems in place to ensure continuity of service to all our partners, stakeholders and clients. We will continue to monitor and act on the public health advice.

Our Response

We have prepared for these eventualities and the following safety measures are in place:

• Receptions areas are closed.
• No visitors will be accepted to any of our offices that share premises with homeless services.
• Non-service staff working on sites where services and offices co-exist have been asked to work remotely or from home as a precautionary measure to reduce footfall and lower the risk of cross contamination to staff and service users who continue to use the premises.
• Staff will not be carrying out unnecessary home or site visits.
• We are in regular contact with our tenants.
• Early Childhood Care and Education services are closed.
• Day-care for Older People services are closed.
• Our Customer Service Centre is operating remotely for any assistance tenants may require.
• Our Homeless Services remain operational given we are providing emergency accommodation plus 24/7 support.  We are adapting our practice based on public health advice to reduce risk including:
• Facilities for hand washing and sanitising have been increased.
• Social distancing guidelines (2m) are being communicated and enforced.
• Additional deep cleaning of all premises is taking place on a more frequent basis.
• Staff on duty are working in separate rooms and having face-to-face contact only when absolutely necessary.
• Signage is updated as often as the HSE updates their guidelines and is issued to services as soon as it is circulated by the HSE.

Please continue to call our Customer Service Centre for any assistance you may require.

Thank you

We can only continue doing what we do with the support and co-operation of our wonderful staff. We particularly want to acknowledge the work of our frontline staff in homeless services who are doing everything they can to help and support families using our services during this challenging time and also our Housing Team who are linking with our tenants around the country reaching out to those who are elderly or more vulnerable. So much great work is happening in our teams around the country who are coming together to address to this crisis. We are very appreciative and proud to work alongside them.

We would also like to publicly acknowledge with thanks the support and co-operation we have received from our tenants, service users, stakeholders and partners as we all continue to play our part.

Take care and stay safe.

Date 18th March 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a new social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who are unemployed or who have their hours of work reduced during the COVID 19 pandemic. This includes people who have been put on part-time or casual work.

You can apply for the payment if you are aged between 18 and 66 and have lost employment due to the coronavirus restrictions. Students who have lost employment can also apply. It will be paid for up to 6 weeks and has a simple one–page application form.

The new payment aims to get a social welfare payment to unemployed people quickly.

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have been told to self-isolate by your GP, you should apply for Illness benefit.

You can find an application form and further information here.

Date: 13th March 2020

Following the Government announcements on COVID-19, we are responding proactively and taking on-board the recommendations from the public health authorities. The health and safety of our employees, tenants and services users is the most important thing to us. We are adapting our approach to different settings dependent on the nature of the work. Staff across various departments in Respond have commenced remote working and we would like to reassure you that we have systems in place to ensure continuity of service to all. We have been preparing and planning for these eventualities and the following safety measures have been rolled out effective immediately;

• Receptions areas will be closed.
• No visitors will be accepted to any of our offices that share premises with homeless services.
• Where staff can work from home they will be doing so in order to maintain, in so far as practicable, service delivery to all our stakeholders.
• Staff will not be carrying out unnecessary home or site visits.
• Early Childhood Care and Education services are closed.
• Day-care for Older People services are closed.
• Our Homeless Services remain operational given we are providing emergency accommodation plus 24/7 support.  We are adapting our practice based on public health advice to reduce risk.

Our services to our tenants continue please call our Customer Services Centre on 01 808 7700 for any assistance you may require.

We know that this is a worrying time for people but the steps we have taken today to promote social distancing including closing services and working from home greatly reduces the risks to all of our employees, tenants and service users.

We ask that you bear with us at this time and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

COVID 19 (Coronavirus)
Date: 09th March 2020
There has been a lot of information and news for tenants regarding COVID 19 virus. You will probably be aware from media and social media reports that there are now a number of confirmed case of coronavirus (covid-19) in the Republic of Ireland.

The risk of catching coronavirus in Ireland is still low to moderate. This may change. However, most people may continue to go to work, school and other public places, as usual. If you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, a public health doctor will tell you this.

Measures to protect yourself are the similar in terms of protecting yourself from most infections these include washing your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, and covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze.

This is only a guide but close contact can mean:

• spending more than 15 minutes face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person
• living in the same house or shared accommodation as an infected person

Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days should:

• isolate themselves from other people – this means going into a different, well-ventilated room alone, with a phone
• phone their GP, or emergency department
• in a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms) phone 112 or 999

For more up-to-date information see:
The Health Service Executive website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/coronavirus.html

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/

UPDATE POSTED: 06th March 2020

04th November 2019

A boil water notice has returned for parts of Dublin, Kildare and Meath. A map is provided of all affected areas here

We are urging any of our tenants in impacted areas to follow the guidelines issued by Irish Water.

You should use cooled boiled water for:

• Drinking
• Drinks made with water
• Preparation of salads and similar foods which are not cooked before eating
• Brushing of teeth or gargling
• Making ice – discard existing ice cubes and make ice from cooled boiled water.
• Filtered water – pour out any filtered water in fridges and use cool boiled water

What you do not need boiled water for:

• Personal hygiene, such as showering and bathing.
• Toilet flushing

Respond would like to invite children (under 16) of residents, tenants, staff and service users to participate in this years Respond Christmas card competition 2019

Please find details on the poster below

Closing date Friday 8^th November 2019

Please ensure all entries include name, age, address and contact number on the back of their entry, so the winning entrants can be contacted directly.

There will be €100.00 Smyths voucher for each of the three categories

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr. Katherine Zappone TD has judged the winning entry for the last two years and we are hoping she will be in position to judge again this year ( fingers crossed)

Posted:  October 2019

A message for our tenants to please be mindful of the current bad weather warnings and stay safe.

More details are on Met Eireann’s weather alert, weather warning and severe weather warning on www.met.ie which also has the latest national and regional forecasts.

You will find further information in the Tenant Handbook here

Mr Eoghan Murphy, T.D., Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Councillor Shay Brennan, turned  the sod on the first ever Cost Rental development in the State at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dublin on 10th September 2019.

At €1,200 per month for two bedroom apartments, starting rents will be significantly below current local open market rents. The rent will be based on the cost of building, managing and maintaining the homes

Cost Rental is housing where the rents charged cover the cost of delivering, managing and maintaining the homes. As the rent paid by the tenant in a Cost Rental tenancy is designed to only cover the actual costs, rents will not be driven by market movements. The groundbreaking project will deliver 105 social homes and 50 two-bedroom Cost Rental homes.

Respond and Tuath Housing Associations will be delivering the scheme in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on land provided by the Housing Agency under the Land Aggregation Scheme. This first Cost Rental pilot project under Rebuilding Ireland is the result of an innovative collaboration between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Respond and Tuath Housing Associations.

The overall development value of the 155 homes and the community facility is in the order of €55,000,000 including, construction works, design fees, development levies and VAT. The construction work was tendered on a competitive basis in accordance with EU procurement requirements.

Tenants will pay €1,200 per month to live in the 2-bedroom Cost Rental homes delivered as part of this project. The rent of €1,200 per month, which is based on the cost of delivering and maintaining the homes, is a significant reduction when compared to market rents for 2-bedroom apartments in this location. Funding is being provided through the Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The new homes will be delivered in 2021.

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy T.D. commenting on this development said:

“I am very pleased to formally mark the commencement of construction on this important site. Not only will the project deliver the first 50 Cost Rental apartments in this new category of housing in Ireland, it will also provide 105 social housing homes as part of our ongoing efforts to meet ambitious targets in this sector. Cost Rental will provide affordable homes to middle and lower income earners at a cost to residents that is significantly below market rates. Work is underway within my Department and with a range of State agencies to complete a national policy framework for Cost Rental that will detail the optimum means of delivering units at scale, and set out the structures for its operation. This is both the first Cost Rental project to commence construction on a national basis. It is also the first project to receive funding under my Department’s innovative Serviced Sites Fund, which has made available € 310 million in grant funding for infrastructure works to support the provision of affordable housing. The lessons that will be learned through this pilot project will be important in helping to shape this model into the future. I would like to commend the work of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, Respond and Tuath, in getting the project to this stage, and am delighted to see such progress on the site to date.”

An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr Shay Brennan speaking about the project said:

This project on Enniskerry Road delivers 155 much needed social and affordable homes with integrated community facilities. It is a landmark in both collaborative development and the first pilot nationally of a new Cost Rental model. The development was designed in house by the Councils Architect Department and will be constructed and managed by Respond and Tuath Housing Associations with the assistance of the Housing Agency and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This Council is committed to directly delivering and also facilitating the delivery of innovative, high quality and award winning housing solutions for people in our community; like the recently completed Georges Place in Dún Laoghaire, Fitzgerald Park in Mountown and Rosemount in Dundrum. I have every confidence that this new project at Enniskerry Road will be a further high quality addition to housing stock in our area and I am delighted to be at the launch of the project.”

John O’Connor, CEO of the Housing Agency speaking about the role of the Housing Agency in the project said:

“The Housing Agency have put a lot of work into progressing this development and providing the land. The Agency as particularly supportive of having Cost Rental combined with the provision of social housing. We expect that this will be the first of many such Cost Rental developments in the future.”

Barry O’Leary, CEO of the Housing Finance Agency speaking about the project finance said:

“The HFA is very pleased to support this development on the Enniskerry Road, which will provide 155 new social and affordable homes in Dublin. The project is a new venture for the sector with two of the most active Approved Housing Bodies, Respond and Tuath, combining to deliver the first affordable scheme of this type in the country. The availability of low cost, long term fixed rate finance from the HFA was a vital component in making the project viable and the HFA will continue to support the strong growth in activity by approved housing bodies across the country as we work together to achieve the objectives set out in Rebuilding Ireland. “

John O’Connor, Chairperson of Respond Housing Association, said:

“We are very excited about this project and the Cost Rental homes it will deliver. This is only possible due to significant collaboration with all of our partners working hard together. This is a priority area of work for Respond as it is clear that some form of intermediate housing is needed for those who don’t qualify for social housing, won’t be able to afford a mortgages and yet cannot afford market rents. During this housing and homelessness crisis, it has become extremely difficult for an individual or family to rent an affordable, secure home. There are large numbers of people in Ireland who cannot afford the rents which are being charged in the locations where they work, attend college or near where their social networks are based. Cost Rental models are already the norm in other European countries. The Enniskerry Road Project is part of a process bringing Ireland more in line with European housing policy especially in relation to the Private Rental Sector. Across Europe neighbours from all walks of life live in housing association developments side by side.”

Daragh O’Sullivan, Vice Chairperson of Tuath Housing commented;

“Tuath are delighted to have started construction on Ireland’s first Cost Rental development in partnership with Respond, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, The Housing Agency, The Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government. The rent paid by tenants will cover the cost of providing the homes, not a cent more. We are thrilled to be involved in a project which offers moderate income households the choice of a more affordable, long-term and stable form of rental tenure than exists presently, with the added benefit that their rent will not be driven by price changes in the private rental market.”

The Enniskerry Road Project was designed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the construction of 155 social and affordable homes, a community facility along with green spaces at Enniskerry Road, Stepaside, Dublin 18. The site is located near to a wide range of amenities, public facilities, schools, health services, local community and sports groups. Enniskerry Road provides access to the LUAS Green Line, the 47 bus route, and the M50 motorway. The project is the result of a collaboration between Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Housing Agency, Respond and Tuath Housing Associations, and the Housing Finance Agency. Financial support is also being provided through the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

VIDEO CAN  BE VIEWED HERE

The project includes 50 Cost Rental homes and 105 social homes to be apportioned between Respond (78 homes including 25 Cost Rental) and Tuath (77 homes including 25 Cost Rental). The homes will be a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties. All of the 50 Cost Rental homes will be 2-bedroom apartments.

Posted: September 2019

Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe visited the new residential development in Kilbarry, Co. Waterford.

Respond Board of Directors Vice Chair Brendan Cummins welcomes Minister Pascal Donohoe onsite

Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe was on location in Kilbarry on the 5th September to visit a new residential development by Respond which includes 69 new homes including 9 one-bed apartments, 6 two-bed apartments, 26 two-bed houses and 28 three-bed houses. This project is in partnership with Waterford City and County Council, the Department of Housing and the Housing Finance Agency. This is part of Respond’s National Delivery Programme with 1,086 homes currently under construction and on site.

Niamh Randall, Head of Advocacy and Communications speaking about this development said:

“Waterford is very important to Respond and our development programme as a national Housing Association. It is where we began our work in 1982 and where we had our first housing scheme. Respond has completed 595 dwellings to date in the Waterford City and County area.

This new development in Kilbarry represents 69 new homes for 69 families and individuals who can create a community here and we hope they will be very happy. The development is due to be completed by mid Quarter 2 – 2020 and would not have happened without the ongoing co-operation and collaboration of our partners. We would like to thank the Waterford City and County Council,  Department of Housing, the Housing Agency and the Housing Finance Agency.”

“We are building homes throughout the country for families and individuals who are in housing need, with 1,086 new homes under construction and on site nationally right now. A secure place to call home is critical to the quality of life and wellbeing of individuals and families. We see first-hand the devastating impact of homelessness and insecure housing in our work with families and children. Our long term aim is to provide lifetime social and affordable homes to a far greater proportion of the population, bringing Ireland more into line with our European counterparts. We have also committed to supporting households and individuals experiencing homelessness on their journey back to independent living and providing safe and secure housing in the short-term in the form of supported temporary emergency accommodation. ”

This development includes a unit mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes to help address social housing need in this area. According to the latest available figures in the Social Housing Needs Assessment (2018) there are almost 1,117 households on the social housing waiting list in Waterford. The Development is 4km from Waterford City Centre. It is accessible via the Outer Ring Road (R710) which connects it to the N25 heading to Cork/Rosslare and linking onto the N9/M9 heading to Dublin.

Niamh Randall, Head of Advocacy and Communications continued speaking about the work of Respond:

“Respond believes that every person has the right to a secure, affordable home that meets their needs throughout their lifetime. Our vision is that every family and individual in Ireland will have high-quality housing as part of a vibrant and caring community. This is challenging with the current housing and homeless crisis and we are concerned that the numbers of men, women and children in emergency accommodation continues to grow. At the heart of this is ensuring the supply of social and affordable housing at scale to meet the levels of housing need. We are very clear that all families and individuals want, need and deserve a secure home of their own and that all our efforts must be redoubled to achieve this.”

Respond, who have been working across Ireland for 36 years, continues to offer real on-the-ground solutions by building new homes and actively working with families who are homeless with 1,086 homes under construction and on site this year so far, 6 family hubs and a commitment to deliver 2,500 homes by 2023.

Posted: September 2019