THE GOVERNMENT has been urged to buy up homes which remain unsold due to the property slump in a statement by homeless action group Simon Communities.
The organisation estimates that some €2 billion of social and affordable housing needs to be "ring-fenced" to meet commitments to cut the numbers of people sleeping rough on Irish streets next year.
Patrick Burke, the charity's chief executive, said yesterday that the Government should take advantage of cheaper property prices to boost its housing bank.
Due to the economic slowdown house prices are lower than they have been in years, he pointed out.
The organisation maintained investment by the Government in housing stock would provide a much-needed boost for the construction sector, and increased availability of social and affordable housing which "would alleviate the problems of many people experiencing and at risk of homelessness".
It went on: "To ensure people move out of homelessness, a whole menu of move-on options must be available, and social housing is a crucial component in this regard."
According to the 2006 census, there are 1.77 million homes in the country and 216,535 are lying empty.
Simon Communities claimed more than 15 per cent of the total housing stock was permanently vacant.
Mr Burke said it was "a shocking statistic when you consider how many people are at risk of homelessness, experiencing homelessness, or living in sub-standard accommodation".
Some 12,400 social and affordable homes were supplied last year - almost 3,000 units short of the required 15,000 annual average target, according to Simon.
The charitable organisation claimed €1.93 billion was needed next year to provide the 44,000 units pledged under the National Development Plan and the social partnership agreement, despite the grim economic outlook.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/8a09a42a-bf7b-491e-848d-432f8309b3fa.png)