Thomas Gould
Ceist:151. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of additional Housing First tenancies that will be delivered with Budget 2023. [48957/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 5 October 2022
Ceisteanna (151)
Freagraí scríofa
Housing 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).
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. Budget 2023 provided funding of over €215m, an increase of 10% on last year, for the delivery of homeless services ensuring enhanced funding for Housing First to deliver these tenancies. In 2023, it is aimed to create a total of 269 Housing First tenancies.