A scaling up of local authority-built affordable housing would help resolve the housing crisis, according to speakers at an event organised by the Fórsa-backed Raise the Roof housing campaign earlier this week.

The seminar heard that the local council in Vienna, Austria, had reduced waiting times for social housing to under two years by building 6,000 apartments, and refurbishing around 4,000 homes each year.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan told the seminar that the housing crisis had got worse since the pandemic struck.

“The figures support that idea that we have moved from a crisis to a disaster. There are 60,000 households on the public housing list, as well as an estimated 30,000 ‘hidden homeless’ forced to share with family or friends,” he said.

The event was hosted by Dublin Lord Mayor Alison Gillialand, who called for more public housing and affordable rental properties. Christian Shantl of the Wiener Wohen Austrian housing group said Ireland could learn from the Vienna Model.

Kevin Callinan said local authorities and trade unions had a big role in fixing this crisis.

“Adequately supported local authorities can deliver housing. Local authorities are not motivated by profits and can deliver high quality housing at a fraction of the cost of private developers. In 1975 they built 8,794 new homes when resources were scarce while in 2019 only 1,000 homes were built.

“Trade unions also have an important part to play. Fórsa’s ‘more power to you’ campaign calls for investment in direct maintenance staff, a new local authority led public housing financial model for housing that operates on a cost-rental basis and a referendum on the right to housing,” he said.

‘Raise the roof’ is continuing its campaign with a series of meeting over the coming weeks. The first taking place in Siptu Hall in Galway, on 28th June. A meeting is also planned for the Glenroyal Hotel in Maynooth on 4th July.