Issue 07 - Cluid housing

Leading the way home 1
Issue 04 Winter 2015 Cluid.ie
Christmas Newsletter
From House to Home…
If you would like to comment on any of the following items, please contact
the editor at Clúid, 63-66 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, or email [email protected].
We would love to hear from you.
Abusing the system
– where do YOU stand?
There are some breaches of the tenancy
agreement that cause frustration and difficulties
for both Clúid and its residents. We deal with
complaints from residents who think some
neighbours are abusing the system and not
fulfilling their part of the deal.
It creates an unfair playing field for those tenants
who do disclose all household members and those
who don’t. We have seen a situation whereby
two neighbouring residents, with nearly identical
households, were paying two different rents. This
is just not fair!
Clúid requires tenants to sign a tenancy
agreement. This is legally binding on both parties.
Your tenancy is secure and protected once the
probation period is completed and for as long as
you continue to honour its terms and conditions.
One of the conditions is that tenants must not sublet their homes to any other person. It also requires
tenants to use the premises as their principal place
of residence and to follow the house rules. Any
new additions to the household must be agreed in
advance with Clúid.
Other issues include sub-letting, using Clúid
properties as a second home or holiday home
or running a business from the home. This is
unforgivable at a time when homelessness among
families is at crisis levels. Clúid continues to
investigate such cases and has had some recent
successes in terminating the tenancy of people
who abuse the system.
Unfortunately dishonesty in declaring all the
members of the household who are living in the
property is an issue we face.
Why not make life easy and
pay your rent online?
www.cluid.ie/cluid-tenants/pay-rent
Christmas and New
Year Opening Hours
The Contact Centre will be closed from
the 24th to the 28th of December and
will reopen on the 29th of December. We
will close again from the 1st to the 3rd of
January and reopen on the 4thof January.
If you need to make an emergency call
when the office is closed, please call the
emergency line on 01 707 2088 and select
Option 1. Alternatively you can select
Option 2 to leave a message and we will
return your call during office hours.
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Clúid News Cluid.ie
These breaches of tenancy can have wider
implications for both residents and Clúid:
Impact on Clúid
• We cannot make best use of accommodation
to help people in housing need.
• There is a greater incidence of both
overcrowding and under-occupation.
• The risk of properties being used for
illegal or immoral purposes increases.
• There is a higher risk of damage to the
property and difficulties gaining access to
carry out maintenance and repairs.
• Resident engagement in the community
reduces.
• The organisation loses revenue due to
investigation and legal costs. This is
income that could otherwise be invested
back into communities.
Leading the way home 3
Impact on people and communities
• Those in greatest need are unable to access
secure and stable social housing.
• ‘Anonymous’ crime and anti-social
behaviour causes fear and disruption to
local communities.
• Unauthorised occupiers are themselves
vulnerable to homelessness when discovered
by a landlord.
• Families end up living in overcrowded
conditions; in one case there were nine
members of an extended family (and four
pets) living in a two-bed apartment.
It is only fair that all tenants are treated equally.
It is simply unacceptable that some people
abuse their tenancy for personal profit or selfinterest. Clúid is committed to investigating and
challenging such behaviour. We know that we have
the support of the vast majority of the residents for
this. The great majority are honest, want fairness,
adhere to the terms of their tenancy and help us
deliver a good housing service to all.
Amongst the other successful applicants were:
Mobolahi Braimoh, Cúirt an Ri, Clonmel
Tim Buckley, White Street, Cork City
Shauna Butler, Windmill Close, Cashel
Regina Carey, Párc Na Habhainn, Cloyne
Elizabeth Clutterbuck, Cúirt an Rí, Clonmel
Oyindamola Dipeolu, Coney Park, Athy
Sara Geoffrey, Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford
Louise Glynn, Springvale Hall, Ticknock Hill
Eamon Healy, Cúirt an Rí, Clonmel
Sharon Kelly, Belmayne, Dublin 13
Elizabeth Kehoe, from Killarney Court, Dublin
Amy Kilkelly, The New Glebe, Tuam
1, is one of the successful winners of this year’s
Conor Lee, Parkside Gardens, Ballymahon
Stepping Stones award. This year, 29 Clúid
Brendan Lynch, Pound Lane, Ennis
tenants were awarded a grant. 19 people will be
supported with their third level studies, seven will Niall MacCarthaigh, Clontygora Court, Dundalk
be enrolling in adult education courses, and three Terri O’Sullivan, Priory Park, Athlone
will be supported to develop their business ideas. Kaarzyna Onuorah, Maryborough
Crescent, Portlaoise
Oriel Lodge Residents, Belturbet
With her grant, Elizabeth is going on to study
Charlotte Reidy, Brindle Hill, Charleville
History in Trinity College. She dreams of setting
Aishling Stokes, Birchwood, Killure, Waterford
up a local history group in her community as it
Melissa Ward, Clarion Quay, Dublin 1
is an area steeped in history. “If you tell people
about how special and important their community Jacob Ziemianski, Colliers View, Portlaoise
is, from a historical point of view, they will be
Congratulations to everyone involved. Clúid
more proud of it and more invested in it. I am
wishes you the best of luck with your studies and
really glad that Stepping Stones has recognised
plans for the future!
that supporting my studies will have a long-term
positive benefit for my community.”
And the winner is…
economically developed countries like Germany
have pledged to accept up to one million
refugees while other countries are anxious that
the crisis will put yet another strain on their
economies. Ireland has pledged to take up to
4,000 new refugees and has already welcomed
the first wave of displaced people from Syria.
Clúid is one of many local charities to respond
to our Government’s appeal for partners to
meet this crisis.
Ireland welcomes
refugees
Imagine you have been walking every day without
a break for the last three months. You have been
beaten, starved, cheated, deceived, spat on,
chased, screamed at. On better days you are
welcomed, fed, allowed to wash, given new shoes
and clothes and allowed shelter for the night. Your
blisters have blisters and every night your dreams
are full of the people you have lost along the road,
and the life you left behind. As winter approaches
your anxiety grows. You yearn for a place – any
place – to lay your head without fear. You long for
a place to call home…
The refugee crisis is the largest movement of
human beings in Europe since the second world
war. The displacement of millions of people
because of war and persecution has caused
a humanitarian crisis all across Europe. More
Social inclusion through
art at St Joseph’s
Court, Clifden
The St Joseph’s Court wall-hanging project began
in June this year. The final eight-foot square
work will be made up of 49 smaller collages with
pictures, symbols and mementoes representing
what each tenant values most in life. You can see a
sample of the wonderful artwork below.
The finished work will be an important piece of
art and local heritage. It will be accompanied by a
booklet which will feature a photo-collage showing
the creation and assembly of each patch. The
completed art work and booklet will be launched
Clúid’s Projects Manager Alistair Shute describes
the process. “In 2014 Clúid was asked by Laois
County Council and the Office for the Promotion
of Migrant Integration (OPMI) to assist in
providing suitable housing for 13 households
being resettled after fleeing the civil war in Syria.
We identified suitable properties and moved
the families from refugee accommodation
centres between March and October this year.
The families are supported by a Project Worker,
funded by the OPMI, and a programme has been
designed to assist them to settle and integrate
into their new community.”
Refugees will often be traumatised by their recent
experiences and exhausted and disoriented by
the sheer length of the journey. Many will speak
no English and have no experience of Irish culture.
Going to the local shop can be an ordeal. Sorting
out schools, health care and household finances
are all issues that may require both support and
translation. Clúid residents can play their part by
giving a warm Irish welcome and helping these
people settle into their new community.
on December 8th as part of St Joseph’s Court
Christmas celebrations and will also feature in the
2016 Bealtaine and Clifden Arts Week Festivals.
The wall hanging was also a central feature
of Social Inclusion Week at St. Joseph’s when
Transition Year students from the local community
school dropped by to the see the work and discuss
its contents with the residents. The students
showed great interest in the project and how our
values change as we get older.
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Clúid News Cluid.ie
Leading the way home 5
The other winners were:
Category
Winners
Great Place to Live
Competition –
the results are in!
Our first nationwide Great Place to Live
competition received a very healthy response
from many residents across the country. The
purpose of the competition is to celebrate
success, recognise our tenants and improve their
social and physical environment.
The winners demonstrated pride in their home,
respect for their neighbours and leadership in
their communities. We are lucky that they are
part of Clúid communities. We would like to
thank each and every one of you who entered
the competition. Entries were very impressive
and we expect this competition to be even
better next year.
Individual appearance
1st place
Zsuzsanna Juhasz from
Cluain Fhada, Dundalk
for her balcony
Individual appearance
2nd place
Adelina Hoggard, Ard
na Solais, for putting so
much time and effort
into her garden
Individual Community
1st place
John Doyle, Milewood
apartments for his
neighbourliness
Communal gardens
3rd place
Ard Na Solais in
Dundalk for the great
interest tenants have
in gardening and for
how they maintain the
gardens.
The winners
demonstrated pride
in their home, respect
for their neighbours
and leadership in their
communities.
North West Region
South West Region
East Region
Awards Ceremony at Radharc na Cille, Carrigart,
Co Donegal.
Michael Foley receiving his award from The Lord
Mayor of Cork and celebrity gardener Diarmuid
Gavin for Overall Winner, South West.
The other winners were:
Category
Winners
Environment
Clontygora Court, Dundalk, received the overall
prize in the East region because of the time, effort
and commitment they put into the estate. They
organised several family fun days, a trip to the
war museum, an open air movie night, art and
crafts classes, water games and sports days. Every
Christmas they organise a double decker bus to
go round Dundalk to see the Christmas lights and
they give prizes to the best house.
South East Region
Eileen White from
Windmill Close in
Cashel
Facilities
Mary Weathers
from Castle Court in
Newmarket
Improvements
Mary Margaret Walsh
(Pearl) from Liosan
Court in Newcastle
West
Community
Maura O’Regan from
Windmill Close in
Cashel
The other winners were:
Category
Winners
Community
1st price
Michael McGinley from
Radharc na Cille in
Carrigart, Co. Donegal
Community
Joint 2nd price
Gort Mhaolir, Athenry,
Co. Galway
Na Blatha Creige,
Galway
Appearance
1st price
Oriel Lodge, Belturbet,
Co. Cavan
Facilities
Joint 1st price
St Jarlath’s Court,
Tuam, Co. Galway
St Joseph’s Court,
Clifden, Co. Galway
Environment
1st price
St Joseph’s Court,
Clifden, Co. Galway
Improvements
1st price
Celtic Cross View,
Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim
Rock View Court, The Faythe, Wexford took top
prize in the South East area of the Great Places
to Live competition. Residents have been coming
together for a number of years now to take part in
the competition and add to the appearance of the
estate by planting hanging baskets and window
boxes and doing regular estate clean ups. This
year’s competition was judged by David Niblock
of Focus Ireland who said “it’s very inviting and
welcoming, this estate stood out within its area.
Very clean and tidy. The other winners were:
Category
Winners
Environment
Dorothy Collins, Birch
Court.
Improvements
Martin Deans, Russell
Close, Fortunestown
Community
Owen Scully,
Cullenbeg Park,
Mountmellick
Appearance
Susan Williams,
Esmonde Gardens,
Gorey
Congratulations to all of the winning estates
and individuals.
We’d like to take this opportunity to offer our
sincere thanks to all of our residents who entered
the competition and for the hard work you put in
to make your community what it is.
Entries were very
impressive and we expect
this competition to be
even better next year.
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Clúid News Cluid.ie
Leading the way home 7
Stories from around the country
Christmas party for
residents at Garden Mews,
Ballingarry, Limerick
Thanks to all residents who organised and
took part in the following events.
Residents from Garden Mews, Ballingarry, celebrated
an early Christmas in September at the Mustard Seed
in Ballingarry, Co Limerick.
Estate clean up day at Cluain
Fhada, Lis na Dara, Dundalk
Cluain Fhada, Lis na Dara, Dundalk held an estate clean-up day on
24th August to address an ongoing problem with illegal dumping.
This was the first event that the residents held as a community and
was a great success.
Coffee and gardening
at Castle Court,
Newmarket, Cork
Residents in Castle Court, Newmarket were treated to
a coffee morning and planting afternoon to celebrate
European Neighbours Day on May 29th. There was
an overwhelming sense of community spirit and each
house on the estate received plants/flowers for their
gardens and window boxes.
Esmonde Gardens,
Gorey - A Great Place to Live
Residents of Esmonde Gardens, Gorey have been working together
over the summer months on the communal green areas within
their estate. The group won €300 prize money in the Great Place
to Live Competition and are busy planning for bigger and better
in 2016. Children will be designing and painting fairy doors on the
trees on the estate. An insect hotel is currently under construction
to encourage bio diversity. As a number of residents have limited
mobility, raised beds are planned. This will enable access to nature
for all residents.
Halloween at
Liosan Court,
Newcastlewest,
Limerick
Liosan Court Tenants Association and
residents at their Halloween get-together.
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Clúid News Cluid.ie
Residents rally round for
lifesaving defibrillator at
Ard Carrig, Carrigtwohill, Cork
Following a fundraising drive the residents of Ard Carrig were able
to install a defibrillator in the communal area. This is a vital piece of
medical equipment and Clúid Housing welcomed the opportunity to
support residents in their efforts. “Knowing the defibrillator is readily
available with six fully trained residents gives everyone a feeling of
security and peace of mind.”
Karen King – Scheme Manager
Leading the way home 9
Tidy Towns award for
Lana Aoibhinn
Lana Aoibhinn beat off stiff competition from over 50 other estates
throughout Longford to be crowned the most improved estate by
Longford Tidy Towns in 2015. An award ceremony took place on the
21st October in the Longford County Council Chamber. On behalf of
Lana Aoibhinn, Mr Thomas Sherlock received a certificate and trophy
along with a number of plants for their scheme.
‘Killarney
Court Kool
Kidz’ trip to
Tayto Park
Parents from Killarney Court
and Clúid organised a trip to
the theme park in Co. Meath.
On the day we had glorious
weather, 31 adults and children
attended and everyone enjoyed
what Tayto Park has to offer.
Residents of St Joseph’s
Court, Clifden, get active
A small group of walkers from St Joseph’s Court
completed the one and a half hour hike around the
beach road in Clifden on Sunday 18th October. A grand
total of €2700 was raised and will be used to fund a
variety of activities.
Coffee morning
at Vizes Court,
Limerick City
Residents from Vizes Court attended
a coffee morning on 17 September
to raise funds for the Irish Hospice
Foundation. The residents raised
€147.16 with the proceeds going to
the Milford Care Centre, Limerick.
Street feast at Colivet
Court, Limerick City
Clúid hosted a street feast for Colivet Court
and Vizes Court residents on 19 June 2015.
The event was really well attended with good
food, music and plenty of craic.
10 Clúid News Cluid.ie
Leading the way home 11
A day in the life of a voluntary Caretaker
We ask Ruth MacCarthaigh for her thoughts on her role as voluntary
caretaker in Clontygora Court, Dundalk.
Ruth outlines her weekly routine:
When I’m walking around the estate I generally
keep an eye out on things. If the children are
around I show them how to dead-head the
roses and we take the time to stop and admire
the garden, chatting as we go. They enjoy the
interaction and I believe it gives them a real sense
of belonging; that this too is their home, every bit
as much as the houses they live in.
involved as young children have a greater
respect for it. I’ve talked to some of the youth
and they told me how being involved in our
estate over the years helped them to foster
friendships with one another that might not have
otherwise formed.
What positive outcomes
does it have for Clúid?
It can be nice walking through the estate in the
morning when there is nobody about but it is also
great to be with the children, just chatting away.
Sometimes when I open the community centre to
clean it they gather around the door and chat to
me. It’s easy to have patience with them as they
are lovely, friendly children; always kind and in a
good mood.
Well, it’s bound to impact on Clúid! This estate
is most certainly a more pleasant place to live in
because of the work the committee and other
residents have put into it over the years. I think
there is less anti-social behaviour too, and that
has to be good for Clúid. I feel sure there must
be some element of pride for Clúid to see one
of their estates prosper and do well, and for it
to have a good name.
How do you encourage tenants to
get involved?
Has your role in Clontygora Court
any positive outcomes for you?
Every year we invite all residents to attend the
resident committee meetings. The response is
not always great but we keep trying. We have
set up a Facebook page and regularly update
this with news and photos of events. We get a
great reaction from that! It’s always hard to stir
up people to join the committee. I don’t know if
there is any magic bullet for that. The thing is to
keep moving forwards and realise that little and
often can do the trick.
I know a lot more neighbours because of the
community work I have done and I am grateful
for that. It’s good to be friendly and to be
able to help each other out in times of need.
Whether it is to be asked to house-sit while
the occupier is on holidays or just to help
somebody move their furniture or give them
a lift somewhere, it’s all good. There’s no such
thing as perfection, but I do feel safe living here.
I know that my neighbours, young and old, are
there for me and my husband when we need
them. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.
You don’t have to live in each other’s ears to be
a good neighbour! The residents of Clontygora
Court excel in this sort of neighbourliness.
Perhaps I can take this opportunity to thank
them? They know who they are!
What positive outcomes and
impact does it have on the
community and tenants?
The residents really appreciate the committee’s
hard work throughout the year. There is no doubt
that our estate has benefitted from the voluntary
spirt at Clontygora Court. Over the years residents
have power-hosed, painted, drilled and planted
different areas around the estate so I think this too
has been appreciated. There is very little damage
done to the planting and to the estate in general
and I really do think that the youth who were
Find out all the latest news at
www.cluid.ie/cluid-tenants/latest-news/
Brian O’Gorman, Chief
Executive Clúid Housing,
Ruth MacCarthaigh,
Clontygora Court and
Laura Killalea, Housing
Officer Clúid Housing
Award winning scheme
at Pound Lane, Ennis
Clúid recently won an award at the 2015 Allianz
Community Housing Awards for the Pound Lane
estate in Ennis. The competition was organised
by the Irish Council for Social Housing. Pound
Lane consists of 22 apartments shared between
two blocks; one historic original building clad in
natural stone and a newer building where tenants
enjoy own-door access off balconies which offer
wonderful views and a sense of space. The scheme
is in a great location within walking distance of all
the amenities Ennis has to offer.
Pound Lane afforded Clúid the opportunity to
work with the HSE Clare Mental Health Services on
the Recovery at Home Project. The project assists
people with mental health issues to move from
congregated care to care in their own homes. The
individuals are undergoing training so that they
can acquire the skills needed to manage their new
homes. They are also being supported in forming
meaningful connections within their communities.
Daniel Meehan, one of the tenants, commented
on the impact this project has had on him.
“The Recovery at Home project has provided me
with great support while giving me the freedom
to be independent. My key worker works
alongside Clúid and I feel safe, secure and free
to live my life on my own terms. The partnership
offers me dignity, freedom and security; all
aspects of recovery that are essential to the
maintenance of the positive and productive life I
now live. I am proud of my apartment. I believe
a person’s environment has a direct influence on
their wellbeing and this is more significant for
vulnerable people. I am very happy in my life and
I feel immensely grateful to all involved. I have a
new lease of life.”
Yule Log
6 eggs
6oz (175g) caster sugar
3oz (75g) ground almonds
5oz (150g) dark chocolate
3fl oz strong coffee
• Put chocolate and hot coffee
in a bowl over hot water and
melt. Allow to cool.
• Separate eggs and whisk
whites until stiff. Whisk yolks
and sugar until pale and
doubled in size.
• Fold ground almonds in
to the yolks, then add
chocolate and mix well.
Fold in egg whites.
• Bake in swiss roll tin lined
with parchment paper, 160º
fan oven until risen. Take
out of oven as soon as it is
uniformly raised, (about 15
mins) leave to cool. It will
collapse, but this is normal.
• Turn roulade out on to a
sheet of greaseproof paper
liberally dusted with icing
sugar, fill with cream and roll
up. Dust finished log with
plenty of icing sugar.
This recipe was kindly donated
by one of our residents in Vizes
Court, Limerick City.
12 Clúid News Cluid.ie
This new report on the housing and support needs
of Clúid’s older tenants is now available on www.
cluid.ie. The research includes a detailed survey
of nearly 400 Clúid tenants aged 60 or over about
their homes and the supports (if any) they receive.
The research shows that most people want to stay
in their own homes as they get older, and will be
able to do so with appropriate adaptations and
supports. It also shows that the vast majority of
people in sheltered housing for older people are
satisfied with their home. Of course that doesn’t
mean that we’ve got everything right, but we’ll be
using the research to put together a plan to meet
the needs of our older tenants.
A Home for Life - The Housing and Support Needs of Clúid’s Older Tenants
A Home for Life
A Home for Life
The Housing and
Support Needs of
Clúid’s Older Tenants
October 2015
www.cluid.ie
We’d like to say a very big thank you to every one
of the 400 tenants who filled in the questionnaire.
Without you, we’d have no research; and without
the research we wouldn’t know what to do to help
older people stay in their homes as they get older.
Pause For Thought
A Letter To …?
by Brian Murphy
Coming to a screen
near you…
Clúid has teamed up with some tenants to work
on a couple of new videos. The videos document
their stories before Clúid, while they were waiting
for a home. However their story doesn’t stop
there. They go on to share how life has been after
moving into their new home. This helps to put an
emphasis on the solutions to the housing crisis,
something Clúid is very eager to achieve in our
mission to increase housing supply. Thank you
so so much to Diana Sherlock and her beautiful
little girl for sharing her family’s story. Thanks also
to Daniel Meehan for getting involved, despite
the torrential weather on one of the days of
filming! Diana’s and Daniel’s videos are up on
www.cluid.ie. We’ll be sharing these stories as
much as we can as it highlights the importance of
quality, affordable housing to young families and
to people who want to live independently in a
thriving home and community.
This Christmas, a time of joy and happiness,
I am writing to remind you that I am still a
human being capable of feelings and emotions.
You seem to have forgotten me…
Is it because the sky is my roof, your old
newspapers are my blankets and my clothes
are in rags?
I know that I am not that much to look at, dirty,
emaciated and weak. But, I’m still there, outside
your front door. If you look, you’ll surely see me.
I’m always hungry, but most of all I’m terribly
lonely. You won’t say a kind word to me. You
seem to avoid me like the plague.
Your children throw stones at me and mock me
with their cruel words. It has become quite a
game for them. I try to carry on but you don’t
seem to care…
Spare a thought for the homeless this winter!
www.cluid.ie
Clúid Housing Association
Contact Centre
Tel: 01 707 2088
63-66 Amiens Street
Fax: 01 707 2244
Dublin 1, Ireland
Email:[email protected]