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Hand hold needed, myself and family are homeless.

122 replies

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 13:56

I am one of those affected by the mica scandal in Ireland where the houses are falling down and there is little Government support. I am a 47-year-old mother of four with a disabled husband. I am the breadwinner and we have to move out of our house as it is set to fall down. I only have 2 sisters who face similar so we can't stay with them and brother lives in Canada. My parents are dead.

I don't know what I am looking for here, I feel ready to just drop. I am trying to stay positive for my kids, the oldest being 11. I really don't know how I am going to cope. We are left financially ruined and our house is falling down around us and unsafe to live in. We have to move into a caravan. It feels like hell, I thought my husband getting MS in 2015 was the worst thing to happen but this is hell. I literally don't know how I can cope. I have lost my home.

OP posts:
Mynameismargot · 10/10/2021 15:21

@Eggsdancing

You are going to be handed 100s of 1000s of euro and that's like being a refugee is it? I don't know what type of refugees you have in donegal but that doesn't happen in the rest of the country

a new build will take around 3 years we were told as it takes at least a year to get approval. In the 3 years we are living in a sub-standard caravan which is dirty and cold and have to pay rent for that and if we try to walk away from the mortgage we don't get the money. We have to significantly downsize from the house we paid dair and square for.

2 years to build a house? A council estate of 50 odd houses was built from start to finish down the road from me in the last 18months and that was done with covid shutdowns.

That is still absolutely nothing like being a refugee though perhaps you could explain the similarities between your situation and living in direct provision for years and years with no 100s of 1000s waiting at the end of it?

I'm sorry but I've been listening to this kind of hyperbole for months from people in donegal and mayo on the radio and it's pretty sickening given the state of housing in the country. Those billions would be very gratefully received by homeless people in other parts of the country if you guys don't want it.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:22

I don't know what type of refugees you have in donegal but that doesn't happen in the rest of the country

refugees in Ireland were given social housing which is only right. I know because I care and come into contact with them through work.

OP posts:
EastWestWhosBest · 10/10/2021 15:23

I’m so sorry this is happening to you op. I’d never heard of this but reading about it it seems dreadful. Huge numbers of people affected.
amp.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/07/blocks-like-weetabix-how-mica-scandal-upended-lives-in-ireland

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:23

Those billions would be very gratefully received by homeless people in other parts of the country if you guys don't want it

we paid for the houses, we paid tax, and still do.It is the govt who fucked up here by not enforcing laws,

OP posts:
FionaMacCool · 10/10/2021 15:25

Have you spoken to the Housing Dept in the County Council?
You should Hmm be a priority with a disabled family member.
If you got housing for 18months while this gets sorted, that would be ok as a stopgap.
www.donegalcoco.ie/services/housing/socialhousingoptions/

Have you spoken to your TD?
List of current TDs
www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2020/donegal/

Be a squeaky wheel.
Contact your Councillors www.donegalcoco.ie/yourcouncil/yourcouncillors/

Now, I'm sure you've tried all of these already, but sometimes when we're overwhelmed, the obvious eludes us.

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:25

I hate the notion that the OP should be grateful for losing her home & money because some people are homeless.

Brusca · 10/10/2021 15:25

So sorry, OP, the whole situation sounds horrendous Flowers

I lived in Cornwall in the 80s/90s when similar issues arose with houses built with mundic block, but the houses were older and the deterioration much slower, this sounds both similar and worse. I hope a solution is found soon.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:26

*Have you spoken to your TD?
List of current TDs
www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2020/donegal/

Be a squeaky wheel.
Contact your Councillor*

all being done by myself and 1000s others. Protests nationally etc.

OP posts:
Sparkl · 10/10/2021 15:26

I’m not saying it’s right that people are surprised by the insistence on 100% redress, I’m saying that the mentality in Ireland is you are responsible for your own housing, generally speaking.
I would prefer a much broader state housing system but it is going to take a huge change in mentality for housing to really be seen as a state responsibility.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:27

I hate the notion that the OP should be grateful for losing her home & money because some people are homeless

there is also the notion here by some we are living in a Beverly Hills celebrity-style mansion with a pool and a butler.

OP posts:
Mynameismargot · 10/10/2021 15:27

@Eggsdancing

I don't know what type of refugees you have in donegal but that doesn't happen in the rest of the country

refugees in Ireland were given social housing which is only right. I know because I care and come into contact with them through work.

So you would like the government to give you social housing? Perhaps coundil estates are the answer? You could rent them like refugees do, they would be quicker and cheaper to build and you would be paying rent like refugees do so they houses would eventually pay for themselves? Why not campaign for this? I think you would get a lot more sympathy if you make it clear that you are just looking for social housing like refugees get. I would back that 100%.
dongke · 10/10/2021 15:27

The state should ensure that building companies can't get away with this then tax payers wouldn't need to pick up the pieces.

AnnieJ1985 · 10/10/2021 15:28

I well believe it will take years from redress being agreed, to people being able to claim it, to money actually being available, sites cleared, planning getting the OK, to finally having your home built. We all know that big developers have ways of fast tracking through a system which is flawed, compared to one home owner among many waiting to have their house built. Why shouldn't these people have their costs covered and their homes rebuilt? What alternative is there? These people are tax payers too, the tax payer pays for a lot of shite the shouldn't have to, but what is the alternative?

FionaMacCool · 10/10/2021 15:28

Are you getting all your allowances- e.g. husband getting Disability Allowance? Do you qualify for Carer's?
services.mywelfare.ie/en/other-info-pages/contact-us/

A visit to the local Citizen's advice might be helpful to see if there is any additional financial supports that you haven't looked at.

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:28

I think you would get a lot more sympathy if you make it clear that you are just looking for social housing like refugees get. I would back that 100%.

I think most normal people are sympathetic to the OPs situation.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:28

I think you would get a lot more sympathy if you make it clear that you are just looking for social housing like refugees get

we are looking for redress as the govt fucked up, if 1 of your kids bought/built a house would you be so quick to keep victim blaming?

OP posts:
dongke · 10/10/2021 15:29

Why shouldn't these people have their costs covered and their homes rebuilt? What alternative is there? These people are tax payers too, the tax payer pays for a lot of shite the shouldn't have to, but what is the alternative?

yep

leakymcleakleak · 10/10/2021 15:30

@dongke

I'll be honest and say if your house takes I'll also be honest and say if it will cost 350 to rebuild your house in Donegal, it must be a pretty huge house

so what?

The point is, the government has been pushing a scheme for some time that would provide 100% redress for affected homeowners, with some limitations - be they on square footage, or cost. The absolute worst case scenario is that the OP doesn't get the full cost of rebuilding a home which must be significantly larger than the average house in the country. The point is, if the homeowner groups had accepted this as a possibility, and accepted that they would get a 1800 square foot home back rather than a 2500 square foot home back (built to much higher building regs) then they would be very far on their way. This is bearing in mind the government had no role in regulating building materials except setting standards: its pretty clear this is the result of rogue operators. Have you ever seen people send a brick off for analysis on a building site to ensure its composed as it should be? Is that really something you'd expect?

Equally, if the homeowners accepted that the houses would be made sound if possible, with repairs rather than complete knocking and rebuilding, the government was going to guarantee 100% of the cost of repair to rebuild the houses as are. The homeowners group have so far rejected all these possibilities.

The people living in 3 beds on estates will very clearly be covered. The sticking point, and one of the reasons its dragged on, is the homeowners groups refusing anything other than 100% of what they believe to be the cost of rebuilding their homes to a suitable standard. The figures they are quoting are very much out of line with what it costs to build a house in most parts of the country, and Donegal is actually one of the cheapest parts of the country to buy property.

None of that is to diminish the situation the OP is in, but its just a bit disingenuous to act as though the country is ignoring the situation.

You talk about there being 100% redress in Dublin, I assume you mean priory hall?Those residents had to live in apartments for years, and again, those buildings were repaired not rebuilt.

There are concerns that if everyone gets 'better' houses rebuilt, and there is no contribution required for the builders or suppliers to contribute, then its the government writing a blank cheque for future developers to cut corners and put in shoddy materials. Its an awful situation OP, its not of your own making, and I didn't realise you were actually at the point of moving out - I know lots of people who are aware its worsening, and fear homelessness in their future, but are very likely to be able to stay.

But equally, I know people who've discovered, say, dry rot in their house, other catastrophic faults, and there's absolutely no support. I really hope things work out, and there are good temporary arrangements put in place. Its really really difficult. But its hard to know what else can be done - there literally aren't empty houses to put people in while there houses are rebuilt. Its a scheme was accepted earlier, people could have maybe just moved out for a few months while repairs took place.

But in all honestly OP, you've said a LOT of things that are factually inaccurate on a site where very few people will have been following this, so its hard not to want to correct that. But I do hope you have as much support in place as possible, and a final decision is made quickly so you can make a clear plan.

Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:31

The state should ensure that building companies can't get away with this then tax payers wouldn't need to pick up the pieces

that's what we asked for, so that this never happens again but it's falling on deaf ears. The houses are still being built with deflective blocks and the problem and cost are going to escalate.

OP posts:
MyGhastIsFlabbered · 10/10/2021 15:32

I'm sorry some people are piling on you OP, it sounds so stressful. Some people need to take an empathy pill. I must admit I've read the thread and still don't understand how is 10% of your house is €140k how it's not worth €1.4 million but that's by the by - if you say it's not I believe you. I think you've (naturally) got your panic head on at the moment and any planning in this state is impossible. I wish you and your family all the best & hope you get properly housed soon.

dongke · 10/10/2021 15:33

@leakymcleakleak my point was I don't see the size of house as particularly relevant. It's wrong regardless.

Mynameismargot · 10/10/2021 15:34

@Eggsdancing

I think you would get a lot more sympathy if you make it clear that you are just looking for social housing like refugees get

we are looking for redress as the govt fucked up, if 1 of your kids bought/built a house would you be so quick to keep victim blaming?

Sorry but you are being disingenuous like Leaky says. Where have I 'victim blamed' you?
Eggsdancing · 10/10/2021 15:36

The people living in 3 beds on estates will very clearly be covered

you do know that those prices will have skyrocketed too?

OP posts:
AnnieJ1985 · 10/10/2021 15:37

This is the mental health page, can we not pile on someone who is struggling?

Forget the blaming.

This is a woman at breaking point, with a disabled husband, and kids facing winter in a caravan in frigging Donegal.

CalamariGames · 10/10/2021 15:41

I must admit I've read the thread and still don't understand how is 10% of your house is €140k how it's not worth €1.4 million
She meant that because compensation would only cover 90% of the original value of the house, with the increase in value since they bought it PLUS the 10% that she would need to find 140k to rebuild like for like to the original house.