Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 March 2018
294. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if homeless housing assistance payments are available for those with refugee status and that have been approved for family reunification by his Department; the supports available to assist such persons to acquire permanent accommodation under HAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13427/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Rebuilding Ireland, an operational sub-group under the auspices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) Taskforce, comprising relevant Departments of State and other bodies such as representatives of local authorities and the Irish Red Cross, was established to support the process of housing programme refugees. This sub-group is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality.
Persons granted international protection status (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) can access State provided supports and services on the same basis as Irish nationals.
Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority. This includes determining whether it is appropriate to refer a household for Homeless HAP Place Finder services.
The Homeless HAP Place Finder Service operating in the Dublin local authorities, and in Cork City Council, is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The Place Finder Service has been successfully utilised by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) across the Dublin local authorities since February 2015, with more than 2,000 households currently being supported by the Homeless HAP scheme. A similar service began operating in Cork City in 2017.
In order to further assist homeless households in exiting emergency accommodation, since January 2018, the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service has been made available in each of the 31 local authority areas. All local authorities are now being provided with the options to pay deposits and advance rental payments for any households in emergency homeless accommodation, in order to secure accommodation via the HAP scheme.
To qualify for these specific additional supports available to homeless households, a household must have been determined by the relevant local authority to be homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. The operation of local homeless services, including the Place Finder Service, is a matter for each local authority.
In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, the Irish Red Cross (IRC) has been mandated by the Department of Justice and Equality to assist with the delivery and provision of accommodation and integration supports under the IRPP. In Autumn 2015, the Irish Red Cross was tasked by Government with managing voluntary pledges of accommodation, goods and services from the Irish public. This includes the IRC deploying migration volunteer coordinators across the country in county hubs including through IRC branches and volunteer members. The IRC is working together with each of the local authorities to coordinate the local responses.
There are a number of ways in which a programme refugee might have their housing need met under HAP: in private rental accommodation with HAP support from Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres, with assistance of IRC or other non-governmental agencies; in private rental accommodation with HAP support from Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres, by sourcing their own accommodation; or in a pledged property using HAP support, under the normal conditions of the HAP scheme.
In summary, arrangements are in place at local authority level across the country to support the identification of units and housing for programme refugees, including through HAP. In addition to the availability of Homeless HAP in situations where the local authority determines the household as homeless, the additional co-ordination measures outlined above are intended to support and assist families into suitable accommodation for their needs.
Such housing solutions are being funded from the €6 billion approved by Government under Rebuilding Ireland over the period 2016-2021. It should be noted that a range of other supports are also being made available at local level to support the integration of the families concerned into their new communities.
