Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2017
17. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on whether the process that homeless persons must go through when there is no placement available for them from the DRHE to be satisfactory in view of the chronic shortage of both emergency placements and hotel and guesthouse accommodation; his plans to make changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45302/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. My Department does not have a role in relation to operational issues, such as placements into emergency accommodation, which are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
In relation to the Deputy's query, I am aware that Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) staff are available on a daily basis to meet with newly homeless persons, as they present to the Central Placement Unit. On presentation, the DRHE will make an initial assessment with regard to the homeless person or household’s accommodation options and will arrange temporary accommodation, as required. Those that have presented previously can access the Homeless Helpline until 1am nightly, where their options and possible need for temporary accommodation will be assessed. When a family presents out-of-hours, the dedicated Family Homeless Action Team will work with them to secure hotel accommodation for the night, following which a more detailed assessment of their requirements takes place the next day.
If it is the case that commercial accommodation cannot be accessed late at night, contingency accommodation and arrangements for families are in place but are intended for use only as a last resort when all other options that night have been explored.
It is intended that the long-term housing needs of households in emergency accommodation will be met through a range of social housing supports, such as the HAP scheme and through general social housing allocations. In addition, housing authorities are delivering custom-developed facilities, referred to as family hubs, which offer family living arrangements with a greater level of stability and more coordinated needs assessment and support than is possible in hotel accommodation.
Notwithstanding the continued level of homeless presentations, considerable progress is being made in securing long-term accommodation solutions for individuals and families in emergency accommodation. Over 3,000 sustainable exits from homelessness into independent tenancies were achieved in 2016, and this accelerated further during the first half of 2017 when over 2,000 such exits were achieved. Securing long-term sustainable housing solutions for homeless households will continue to be the subject of priority attention.
