What’s our story
100000homes.com was founded by Rob Cass & Paul Sweeney. We’re fortunate to have had successful international careers in our time outside Ireland and now we want to use our skills and experience to tackle what we see as Ireland’s biggest problem – the chronic shortage of homes for young people.
What’s causing the housing crisis?
Poor planning, political incompetence, vested interests and ‘quiet’ corruption have converged to constrain supply of homes. This is crazy because the economy is strong and people are sitting on €bns in cash. 500,000 young people outside Dublin & Cork can’t buy a home.
Where’s the disruption & innovation?
Right now, nowhere. Modular homes for refugees are costing twice what we could build them for. Planners are adding costs with delays and restrictions with no accountability or responsibility for the impact on normal people. Developers are greedy and inefficient. The system is set up to protect the incumbents.
What will happen if we don’t solve this?
Put simply, the decline in communities outside Dublin and Cork will accelerate. Jobs will go elsewhere. Populations will decline. Schools will close in towns and villages. Communities will slowly die and disappear.
How can we change the system?
Transparency is a good start. We are going to measure the performance of councils and departments against the EU averages for 1st time buyers per 10,000 population, ratio of home ownership, time taken to own a home and other key metrics so everyone can see what’s really happening.
How can you get involved?
- If you want to sell, refurbish or buy a vacant home, sign up to our vacant matchmaker.
- If you have land for housing development and want to find socially responsible options then reach out.
- If you want to buy a sustainable new home, sign up here.