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Time to fill empty houses in Ireland
SpunOut chats with CUBE.
SpunOut.ie: What is CUBE?
CUBE: Campaign to Use Buildings that are Empty, is a broad campaign of individuals and organisations that have agreed to work to maximise the positive use of Ireland's 345,000 empty houses (UCD estimate). We believe this is a critical time for the country and [that] this is a resource we cannot afford to not use, misuse or destroy. The possible uses are housing for the 80,000 households on Council housing lists, art and craft centres, community facilities and space of ecological and energy projects.
SpunOut.ie: How/why did CUBE come about?
CUBE: CUBE is the initiative of Carbery Housing Association, a community based housing association set up some years ago by residents in West Cork. CHA has tried over the past 10 years to develop sustainable housing for rent with the participation of future residents, but has not been supported by the Local Authorities in this effort. Seeing the folly of housing strategies pursued over the last 10 years, it has now turned its efforts to securing leases for some of the many empty houses in the area. CHA has had over 140 applications for housing from people who cannot afford to buy or rent affordably. Half of these are single people.
SpunOut.ie: I'm 18 - why should I care about affordable housing?
CUBE: Single people make up 50% of the national Council housing lists, but only a fraction of council housing is designed for single people. This means that singles have had to rely on the private rented sector, paying high rents and often for sub-standard accommodation. We believe that empty properties taken under licence or lease by housing associations and co-ops, and repaired and managed by them would provide an affordable alternative for single people, and would give them an opportunity to become actively involved in the repair and management of their own housing. This has already happened in the UK and other countries (e.g. Italy) and there is no reason why it should not happen here.
SpunOut.ie: What can I do to get involved in building more sustainable housing opportunities for my community and others in Ireland?
CUBE: We are asking young people who want to see empty houses be put to good use, to start by forming local CUBE groups to organise this. Once you have formed the group let CUBE know, and we will provide whatever help we can. Forming a CUBE involves getting together with others who are similarly minded, discussing and agreeing what you want to do, using the social media to publicise your aims, identifying uses of empty buildings (housing, arts & craft, eco-uses, etc.), contacting owners and raising funds for repair, and actually repairing buildings. Aim to bring your local Council, housing association and employment project into this campaign. Use the CUBE Campaign Facebook page to get advice and organise yourselves. Ask CUBE for advice. Join CUBE and get your friends to join too. Also, have a look at www.self-help-housing.org for ideas.
SpunOut.ie: What is your advice to other people who are passionate about a particular issue, but who don't know what they can really do (maybe housing, maybe something else)?
CUBE: The only way to learn is by trying things out, and this is the only way to find out what is possible and what isn't. No one is an expert when they start out, and experience comes from trial and error. So, don't be afraid to start the ball rolling, and don't be put off by so-called "experts" telling you not to do what you do. It’s the "experts" that have got housing in Ireland into the mess it’s in, so they are hardly in a position to criticise people trying a different approach. Also, don't be afraid to ask for advice. There are many, many people out there in Ireland and Europe with lots of experience that are only too happy to help you fight the good fight.
For a TEDx West Cork presentation of this, click here.
