My Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the statutory role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Local authorities and their NGO service delivery partners work closely with households in emergency accommodation to help them identify and secure a home under the various social housing supports available.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) provides a flexible housing support to social housing eligible households. The HAP Placefinder service is a targeted support to assist homeless households to identity and secure a HAP-supported tenancy. The Placefinder service provides all local authorities with the option to pay deposits and advance rental payments, where necessary, in order to secure a property.