UCD ‘Social Justice & the City’ essay competition

Clúid Housing always welcomes the opportunity to engage with others in the development of social and affordable housing policy, including academic institutions. We were therefore delighted to collaborate with the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice in hosting a competition for third year students of the BSc in Social Justice this February. Students of the module ‘Social Justice & the City’ entered an essay competition outlining their proposals for a new housing development promoting the theme of social justice.

Proposals were to include details of; (A) an approach to housing and home, (B) an analysis of the current issues in the Irish housing system, (C) a proposed model of provision and a discussion of how it responds to current challenges in the Irish housing system.

Clúid staff (Fiona Cormican – Director of New Business, Michael Mooney – Resident Engagement Co-ordinator and Fiona Dunkin – Housing Policy Adviser), Clúid residents (members of Clúid’s National Residents Advisory Group – NRAG) and module co-ordinator and UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice Lecturer/Assistant Professor Michael Byrne judged the entries.

We are delighted to announce the joint winners, who will each be awarded a €100 voucher:

Molly Greenough	Kate Ryan	Aoibhínn Gilmartin
Molly Greenough’s essay entry	Kate Ryan’s essay entry	Aoibhínn Gilmartin’s essay entry

Each of these entries demonstrated innovative thinking and a significant undertaking of research on the topic of socially just housing. There was specific reference to cost rental housing in each, a new housing tenure that Clúid looks forward to delivering on in 2021, having received funding from Government for cost rental schemes earlier this month.

Congratulations to all three winning students!