Fathering apart: social housing policy and the housing experiences of separated fathers in Ireland
Charlie Delap, PhD, Social policy and social work, UCD
Castlebellingham
1
Outline of presentation (1) Separated fathers – which sub-group? Definitions of terms Constraining factors on social housing applicants Social housing supply Constraining factors on separated fathers who are social housing applicants 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
2
Outline of presentation (2) Lack of statistical recognition Consequences Signs of statistical recognition Housing related experiences of separated fathers Housing loss Suggested steps 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
3
Separated fathers Who wish to (continue to) parent their children Of low/ limited income Pursuing social housing
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
4
Definitions (1) Low income: income (net of income tax and social insurance) does not exceed the threshold for their acceptance on to the Housing List of Dublin City Council, at the time of their application. .
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
5
Definitions (2) A non-resident father is, at its simplest, any father not living with his child. .
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
6
Definitions (3) Social housing “…commonly understood to be accommodation provided through state subsidy to meet the needs of people who cannot afford to provide adequate housing from their own resources (National Economic and Social Forum, 2000)”. 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
7
Constraints - social housing applicants in general Affordability – rising cost of housing Sustainability – can social housing meet the need? Accessibility- can social housing meet the needs of single person households, including separated fathers? Quality – does accommodation reach an agreed standard? 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
8
Local authority housing supply 1994 to 2004:
gross gain 45,253 units sales 17,809 net gain 25,444
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
9
L/A assessment of housing need, 1991 to 2005 60000
48413
50000
43684 39176
Number of households
40000
30000
28200
27427
31-Mar-93
31-Mar-96
22822 20000
10000
0
31-Mar-91
31-Mar-99
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
31-Mar-02
10
31-Mar-05
Constraints faced by separated fathers Lack of statistical recognition ď Ž ď Ž
Not measured by Census, or QNHS Excluded from definition of family
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
11
UNECE definition of family A family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense as two or more persons within a private or institutional household who are related as husband and wife, as cohabiting partners, or as parent and child.
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
12
Difficulties in measuring fatherhood Sensitive topic – risk of alienating survey participant Information gleaned may not be reliable
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
13
Lack of statistical recognition Consequences
Needs of separated fathers are unmeasured Separated fathers do not have the status of a category (a good or bad thing?)
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
14
Signs of statistical recognition (1) Assessment of Housing Need
Now broken down by marital status 65.7% principal applicants are single 17.1% married or co-habiting 12.1% separated or divorced
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
15
Signs of statistical recognition (2) DOELG Circular in 1998 ď Ž
Local authorities should acknowledge the housing needs of separating parents, by accepting that both parents may require additional bedroom space to accommodate their children (Department of the Environment and Local Government, 1998)
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
16
Housing related experiences of separated fathers on the ground (1) 191 married-and- separated/ divorced fathers Applicants for Dublin City Council accommodation All with at least one child <18 years on 31/12/2000
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
17
Housing related experiences of separated fathers on the ground (2) In-depth, semi structured interviews with 27 fathers
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
18
Housing loss Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss
of of of of of
marital home tenure housing security independence privacy
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
19
Housing loss Housing loss impacted upon fathersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to parent, by making it difficult ď Ž
ď Ž
To establishing agreed arrangements for overnight contact To modify arrangements for overnight contact which were not working
9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
20
Suggested steps (1) L/As to begin/ continue to acknowledge parenting needs of separated parents Add module on non-resident separated parenting to QNHS Assessment of Housing Need 2008 to collect data on households headed by non-resident parents 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
21
Suggested steps (2) Rental Accommodation Scheme to be brought on stream, in all areas Enhance and resource the inspection regime for private rented accommodation Comprehensive, national survey of separated fathers, to establish a demographic profile 9 December 2006 Castlebellingham
22