Sinn Féin’s Vision for a Home of Your Own
The right to a home is fundamental. But for many in Ireland, finding secure and affordable housing feels out of reach. At Sinn Féin, we believe in a simple, powerful vision: every person should have access to a secure, adequate, and affordable home. Our plan, "A Home of Your Own," is our pathway to realising that vision. This blog outlines the essential steps we’re committed to taking to ensure housing is within reach for everyone, from families and first-time buyers to those who need social housing.
Key Takeaways
- Housing as a Right: Sinn Féin proposes enshrining housing as a constitutional right to ensure everyone has secure, affordable housing.
- Ambitious Targets: Aiming to build 300,000 new homes by 2029, with 125,000 public homes to meet urgent social and affordable housing needs.
- Public Housing Transformation: Establishing a single Public Housing Fund and empowering local councils to manage, approve, and deliver mixed-income public housing communities.
- Support for First-Time Buyers: Plans for stamp duty exemptions and sustainable incentives for homeownership to help working families access affordable homes.
- Homelessness Solutions: A commitment to ending long-term homelessness and creating tailored housing options for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, disabled, and Travellers.
- Environmental Responsibility: Building low-carbon homes and repurposing vacant buildings to reduce environmental impact and meet climate goals.
- Sustainable Funding: Investing €39 billion over five years through transparent, public-private partnerships and exploring Credit Union financing to support public housing projects.
A Vision for Affordable Housing in Ireland
Sinn Féin’s housing plan starts with a simple but ambitious goal: making housing a right for everyone in Ireland. Our plan goes beyond simply putting roofs over heads. We see housing as integral to individual wellbeing, strong communities, and a healthy economy. This is why we aim to make housing affordable and secure for working families, younger generations, and vulnerable groups. To solidify this commitment, we are also proposing to enshrine the right to a home in the Irish Constitution, giving people legal grounds to demand secure housing and ensuring that affordable housing is a protected right for generations to come.
Understanding the Housing Need
Ireland’s housing shortage is no small crisis. Decades of underinvestment and mismanagement have left us with an alarming shortfall, estimated at 212,500 to 256,000 homes. To address this, we are committed to delivering 300,000 new homes by 2029. This includes both public and private homes, with a significant focus on public housing to rebalance the market and ensure everyone has access to affordable homes. Our targets are ambitious, but so is the need, and we are prepared to work hard to meet it.
Central to this goal is a commitment to regular assessments of housing needs across different regions, ensuring that our targets remain realistic and adaptable. By doing so, we can ensure housing provision aligns with demand, allowing us to effectively tackle this shortage in a balanced and sustainable way.
Transforming Public Housing
At the core of our housing plan is a commitment to reinvent public housing. Sinn Féin’s public housing strategy focuses on creating mixed-income communities that integrate social and affordable housing in a way that builds vibrant, inclusive neighbourhoods. To fund this transformation, we will create a single Public Housing Fund, streamlining financial support for social and affordable housing and empowering local authorities to manage housing projects directly.
We’re putting decision-making power back into the hands of local councils, giving them the resources to manage housing based on community needs. By removing the barriers in planning, approval, and financing processes, we can fast-track housing delivery without compromising on quality.
Private Sector Reforms for a Balanced Housing Market
To create a truly balanced housing system, Sinn Féin’s plan goes beyond public housing. We’re implementing reforms to the private sector to support first-time buyers and reduce speculative behaviour in the housing market. Our strategy includes introducing a stamp duty exemption for first-time buyers on homes up to €450,000, making the dream of homeownership achievable for more people.
We also intend to end subsidies like the Help to Buy scheme that have driven up house prices without genuinely helping buyers. Instead, we will introduce incentives for compact urban growth, aiming to build housing developments in well-serviced areas to support a balanced, affordable, and sustainable housing market.
Finally, we will reduce our reliance on private rent subsidies, like the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), which currently funds private landlords instead of investing in long-term social housing solutions. Our aim is clear: make social housing a priority and reduce dependence on private rental subsidies over time.
Addressing Homelessness and Supporting Vulnerable Groups
Homelessness is a national tragedy, and we are committed to ending rough sleeping and long-term homelessness for good. This includes increasing access to emergency and long-term housing and ensuring age-friendly housing options for older citizens, disability-friendly housing, and culturally appropriate accommodation for the Traveller community.
Our plan also includes expanded funding for tenant-in-situ schemes to help people stay in their homes, while increasing acquisition of private rental properties for social housing purposes. By integrating support for vulnerable groups into our housing strategy, we can create an inclusive system that meets the diverse needs of Ireland’s population.
Sustainability and Tackling Climate Change through Housing
As we address the housing crisis, we must also consider our environmental impact. Housing accounts for a significant portion of Ireland’s carbon emissions, which is why our plan prioritises eco-friendly, low-carbon housing. To achieve this, we’re incorporating new building technologies, like modular construction, and re-purposing vacant and derelict buildings for housing.
We will set annual targets for building homes using low-carbon materials and methods. By transforming how we build, we can meet our climate obligations and create sustainable, future-proofed homes.
Financing the Future of Housing
Our ambitious plan comes with a projected cost of €39 billion over five years, with funding sourced through both public and private channels. We will streamline this investment with multi-annual framework agreements and explore innovative financing options, including collaborations with Credit Unions, to make funds available for public housing projects.
Our financing model will be transparent and sustainable, ensuring that every euro invested brings us closer to a future where everyone can have a home of their own.
Conclusion: A Home of Your Own
Sinn Féin’s housing plan is about more than just building houses; it’s about creating safe, stable, and affordable homes for everyone in Ireland. Through bold action, comprehensive reforms, and unwavering dedication, we are committed to making housing attainable for all. We invite you to join us in supporting this vision. With your help, we can make affordable housing a reality for all.
