Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
1220. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to ensure the expansion of the housing first scheme to reduce the demand for emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9018/20]
View answerHousing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help the individuals concerned maintain their tenancies.
The National Implementation Plan for Housing First was published in September 2018. The Plan includes an overall target of 663 tenancies in the period 2018-2021, with annual targets for each local authority. The Plan is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and the local authorities. A copy of the National Implementation Plan is available on my Department's website at the following link
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/housing_first_implementation_plan_2018.pdf.
In line with the National Implementation Plan, Housing First is being delivered on a regional basis by the local authorities and the HSE. Contracts for the delivery of services have been put in place in each of the nine regions responsible for the delivery of homeless services with tenancies now in place in every region.
Regional targets were agreed by local authorities based on a review of homelessness data and a national survey of the support needs of homeless individuals conducted with service providers. The survey results, national targets, and regional targets are available in the Housing First National Implementation Plan document. In this regard, it is important to note that the majority of individuals in emergency accommodation do not require the level of supports provided by Housing First.
