Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2022
32. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of Housing First tenancies delivered and sustained in the past year; the target number of Housing First tenancies for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then, intensive work continues on these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.
The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).
Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports. At the end of Quarter 1 2022, a total of 232 Housing First tenancies had been created over the previous year. While the exact sustainment rate of these particular tenancies is not known by my Department, the Housing First programme had an overall sustainment rate of 86.6% during the 2018-2021 Implementation Plan period.
Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The new Plan outlines the targets for each region and in each year. In 2022, it is aimed to create a total of 282 Housing First tenancies.
