Housing Commission Opens Public Consultation regarding Housing

You may be aware that the Housing Commission is seeking submissions on whether there should be a referendum on the introduction of a constitutional amendment regarding housing, and, if so, what form such a constitutional amendment might take. This is something that your organisation may wish to make a submission on. The closing date is Friday 2 September.

Home for Good, has made a submission recommending that a referendum be held to insert right to housing in the Constitution that is a stand-alone right, that is enforceable and that it be held as soon as possible after the Commission makes its report to Government later this year.

“Home for Good is a coalition of of organisations and individuals who believe that constitutional change is an essential underpinning for any successful programme to tackle our housing and homelessness crisis.

The membership comprises Simon Communities of Ireland, Focus Ireland, Respond, Cope Galway and Threshold. Members also include legal and academic experts, such as Mercy Law Resource Centre, Ann FitzGerald BL and Dr Rory Hearne, NUI Maynooth, and people with deep experience of public affairs, such as Fergus Finlay and Senator Collette Kelleher. Support has also come from Fórsa trade union.

Home for Good has proposed its own wording for the amendment. This wording was devised in consultation with legal professionals and experts on the Constitution. This wording, they believe, will ensure an effective right to housing, to bring about the changes needed to resolve the housing and the homeless crises. This wording received cross party support when it was introduced in the Seanad in June 2021. You can find it in Home for Good’s submission, which is linked to below.

Details on how to make a submission can be found on the Commission’s website. Home for Good has also provided some guidance here

You can follow Home for Good on Twitter @HomeforGood_ and share our posts about the campaign.