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Privatisation of housing provision and shelter exists as a positive feedback loop in Ireland. A clear instance is the cottage industry which has been created within emergency accommodation for homeless people 1/ https://dublininquirer.com/2020/05/20/in-drumcondra-some-question-whether-new-homeless-hostel-should-be-privately-run
Since 2013, the amount of emergency accommodation spending diverted to for-profit operators (hotels, bnbs, hostels) has grown exponentially from €11m to €123m. Their ostensible market share has increased from 40% to 66%. (h/t @FocusIreland) /2
Yet a shroud of opacity surrounds funding of for-profit operators. In Dublin 2019 financial report, while NGOs are delineated by individual service, two lines stand out due to the vast sums involved.
Hotels - €56,617,847.
Private EA - €21,982,583
https://bit.ly/2OIAG1s /3
Hotels - €56,617,847.
Private EA - €21,982,583
https://bit.ly/2OIAG1s /3
In response to FOIs to outline hotels benefiting from EA spend, the oft-repeated mantra of ‘the financial and commercial interest of the emergency accommodation providers would be negatively impacted by the release of this information’ is cited, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/homelessness-crisis-dublin-hotel-received-over-4m-last-year-for-emergency-housing-1.4181148 /4
Scant information was released. 19 hotels received more than €1m with one hotel receiving between €4m and €5m in 2019. Businesses or corporate entities would struggle to relinquish subsidisation on this scale.
The same financial opacity is present with for-profit hostels. /5
The same financial opacity is present with for-profit hostels. /5
Considering the shift to privatisation, Peter McVerry underlines the primacy of profit-making over addressing human need, ‘They want to make money as comfortably as possible so just get rid of anyone who is problematic.’ https://dublininquirer.com/2020/05/20/in-drumcondra-some-question-whether-new-homeless-hostel-should-be-privately-run /Fin
