HOPE AND HOMES PRESENTED BY TONY BUCKLEY JOHN

HOPE AND HOMES PRESENTED BY TONY BUCKLEY JOHN SINNOTT EAMONN MALONEY

BACKGROUND (THE JOURNEY) Ø Background to the work (how we got here) Ø What is Tús Ø Who are the people involved Ø Ongoing projects/Partners

EARLY WORK EXPERIENCES Ø Motor Trade Ø Youth Advocacy Ø Needs and concerns ( the erosion of values) Ø Different economic narrative Ø Social Action Ø Prison work

PLAN OF ACTION • Ø Education Ø Social action Ø The Tús Initiative Ø Tools/skills/abilities Ø Outcomes

AUSTERITY & UNEMPLOYMENT Ø (Tús) Coercive initiative targeting the unemployed (letter from DSP) Ø Social exclusion Ø Mans search for meaning Ø 20 participants placed in community groups Ø Work as an expression of humanity (value system) Ø Human Dignity

SOCIAL ACTION Ø Identify needs within the community Ø Create a number of teams Ø Target those who were in need of maintenance in and around their homes through local agencies Ø Help to prepare empty housing for the homeless Ø Evaluate the setting up of a Maintenance Cooperative for skilled socially excluded workers Ø Prepare proposal (for local agencies) Ø Inter ‘ agency approach

DEMO PROJECT - HOUSING FOCUS ● Disused Pub ● Conversion to 8 -10 Housing Units ● Owner to downsize internally as resident Proof of concept: ● Renovation of existing structure - shorter lead-time; re-use of building materials ● Small town - walkable amenities including transport infrastructure = no parking requirement ● Social aspect of property owner living as part of a community

BENEFITS Property Owner Hope and Homes • Realise Value over time • Access to properties • Keep living where they want • Create Permanently Affordable Housing • Maintain Community Links • Centrally Located • No Risk • Replicable Nationwide • Low Upfront Costs

• Land Transfers to Land Trust THE NITTY GRITTY • Finished Product Managed by Local Coop under long term lease • We provide professionals • Local Coproduced Design • Finished product either remortgaged to pay off owner at agreed price or Long Term Shared Rental Agreement

COMMUNITY BENEFITS 1 Post Covid Main Street regeneration 2 Have a say in Usage Mix 3 Revitalise Communities

POTENTIAL PARTNERS • • • NGO’s Cooperatives Publicans Local Authorities Church Groups Community Development Organisations • Small/Medium Sized Towns

DEMO PROJECT - ECOLOGY FOCUS ● Land in County Offaly ● Donated by landowner ● Half acre Proof of concept: ● Market-gardener keen to establish food production through bio-diversity and permacultural principles ● Section of the landowners’ holding is taken out of monocultural production ● Organic matter of the soil is regenerated

CONCLUSION Ø Future Goals Ø Any questions Thanks for Watching