Yes, Hap is social housing

Harking back to the construction figures of the 1950s, an awful decade, is irrelevant

There is a disturbing narrative in Irish discourse, which goes like this (and I’m paraphrasing): “If the state doesn’t own a property, then the property can’t be considered social housing, and if that’s the case, it is both a dereliction of duty and a waste of money on the part of the state.”

That approach is misguided. Renting homes out using Housing Assistance Payments (Hap) is incredibly effective, and is precisely why the ...