My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at a local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual local authorities.
While responsibility for the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities, the administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis with a lead authority in place for each region. A homelessness consultative forum has been established in each region in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. Decisions on the range of emergency accommodation services and funding required in each region are a matter for individual housing authorities in consultation with the Management Group of the relevant regional joint Homelessness Consultative Forum. It is a matter for the Management Group to bring forward proposals to my Department that meet the needs of homeless individuals in their administrative area and the funding requirements will be considered in this context.
Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with intensive housing and health supports. The programme is a joint initiative of my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and local authorities, in conjunction with NGO partners.
A total of 695 tenancies have been achieved under the current National Implementation Plan which ends this year, surpassing the target of 663. Housing for All commits to an expansion by 1,200 additional tenancies over the next five years. A new National Implementation Plan is to be published before the end of 2021.
