Expert-Review-Group-Traveller-Accommodation

Pavee Points sits on the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee and in 2018 was successful in working for a review of Traveller accommodation by an Independent Expert Review Committee.  This Review Committee reported in 2019 and recommended the establishment of a Traveller Accommodation Authority to drive the provision of Traveller accommodation.  This is one of 32 recommendations – of which just 6 have been implemented to date.

This review also highlights the need for a ban on Traveller evictions. Eviction of Traveller families from public land forces Travellers, who are already struggling, into a pattern of constant movement and is traumatic for both adults and children.

As it stands local authorities have built little or no new Traveller accommodation since 2010.  Recent monies have been allocated for refurbishments mainly.

As part of its ongoing work to highlight Traveller homelessness, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre published an advocacy paper to highlight the issue of Traveller homelessness and to inform the development of strategic and advocacy actions which are required to address this urgent issue.

Data from Census 2016 reports that 39% of Travellers are living in severely overcrowded conditions, our advocacy paper and Pavee Point commissioned research confirms that this is effectively ‘hidden homelessness’. This is compared to 6% of the general population.

“Targeting Traveller homelessness must be part of mainstream housing and homeless strategies,” says Martin Collins, Co Director, Pavee Point. “We also need to have data on ethnicity in our housing and homeless data collection systems so we can see where services for Travellers need to be improved.

“Traveller homelessness exists in every county we are calling on the Housing Minister, Darragh O Brien, TD to appoint a High-Level National Accommodation Lead for Travellers,” added Mr. Collins.

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre will continue its lobbying on decent homes for Irish Travellers and will be distributing its advocacy paper among Traveller organisations and other civil society groups and networks.

Pavee Point has consistently lobbied for a ban on Traveller evictions. Evictions contribute to hardship and suffering for Traveller families and only serve to perpetuate homelessness.

In June 2015 six international organisations also called for a ban on Traveller evictions and highlighted the human cost of evictions. “Local authorities need to find sustainable solutions to the housing or accommodation problems many Roma and Travellers face, and avoid evictions,” the statement said.

Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre welcomes today’s launch of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Equality Review of local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes.

“This Equality Review highlights the importance of an intercultural approach to the provision of Traveller accommodation where Traveller culture and identity is respected,” said Ronnie Fay, Co Director, Pavee Point.

Equality Reviews: Traveller-specific accommodation from IHREC on Vimeo.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that accommodation can be a life or death issue.  Poor living conditions and severe overcrowding contribute significantly to Travellers who get COVID-19 having higher risks of ending up in hospital, going to ICU and death compared to the general population. “We need to future proof Traveller accommodation in case of future pandemics and we need to press for a complete resolution of the accommodation situation for Travellers,” said Ms. Fay.

This Review raises important practical issues that we know are impacting on the provision of Traveller accommodation –

• spending on refurbishment and renovation instead of new accommodation
• lack of forward planning  for actual and future Traveller accommodation needs
• protracted issues with residents from the majority population
• local authority planning issues

“The report also recognises that Travellers are, in reality, being forced into social housing as Traveller specific accommodation is overcrowded and lacks facilities. This is assimilation and goes against the principles of equality,” said Ms. Fay.

The review also highlights that the issue of Traveller homelessness is largely overlooked by local authorities and that local authorities do not factor in culture and identity for an effective response to Traveller homelessness.

“Local authorities have a responsibility and a public sector duty to ensure that they are achieving equality in their service provision,” said Ronnie Fay, Co Director, Pavee Point.  “From this Review we can see there is a need for new initiatives to take account of Traveller ethnicity in the management of Traveller specific accommodation, the provision of standard housing and in the provision of homeless supports.“

The imminent mid-term review of Traveller Accommodation Programmes 2019 – 2024 must now be revised to include the recommendations in this Review to strengthen delivery of Traveller accommodation under Housing Circular 03/2020, to address Traveller ethnicity in local authority service provision and to implement Public Sector Duty requirements.