Voluntary housing

Voluntary Housing in Galway

Galway County Council supports voluntary housing to provide homes for people with specific needs, such as the elderly and homeless. These initiatives are funded in collaboration with the Department of the Environment and Local Government.

Role of Galway County Council

The Council acts as an intermediary between the Approved Housing Body and the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which funds the Voluntary Housing Schemes.

Approved Housing Bodies

There are a number of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in County Galway providing accommodation for a variety of needs and household types, including:

• Persons with special needs
• The elderly
• Homeless individuals
• General family-type accommodation

Many of these schemes also offer facilities such as meeting rooms and day centres to benefit residents.

AHBs consult with the Council when allocating housing. Individuals on the Council’s housing waiting list may be considered for these schemes. Once housed, they are considered socially housed and removed from the Housing Waiting List.

The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) is the national federation representing housing associations in Ireland. They provide guidance on becoming an Approved Housing Body and offer ongoing support with governance and related matters.
More information is available at www.icsh.ie or by emailing info@icsh.ie.

• All Approved Housing Bodies must sign up to the Voluntary Regulation Code to avail of funding from the Department.
• Houses allocated by a voluntary body cannot be purchased by the tenant.

How can I apply?

For more information, contact the Voluntary Housing team.