Paul Murphy
Ceist:80. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has set a target date for ending homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 6 July 2023
Ceisteanna (80)
Freagraí scríofa
As a signatory of the Lisbon Declaration on the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, Ireland has committed, along with other member states, to work towards ending homelessness by 2030. This will be done through a number of actions including:
• Increasing the supply of housing. 300,000 homes will be delivered between now and the end of 2030 including 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable homes and 18,000 cost rental homes;
• Increasing the number of ‘Housing First’ tenancies;
• Inter-departmental and agency co-operation through the National Homeless Action Committee;
• Implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy;
• Expansion of outreach services.
Work on these actions is well under way.
The National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC) was established in Q4 2021. The overarching objective of NHAC is to ensure that a renewed emphasis is brought to collaborating across Government to implement actions in Housing for All, along with bringing better coherence and coordination of homeless-related services in delivering policy measures and actions to address homelessness. Beyond this, the Committee also has a role in addressing emerging homeless-related issues and in developing further responses.
I published the Youth Homeless Strategy on 9 November 2022. The Strategy aims to help young people aged 18 - 24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Work on the 27 key actions of the strategy is underway.
Housing First enables homeless individuals with high levels of complex needs to obtain permanent secure accommodation with the provision of intensive housing and health supports to help them maintain their tenancies. A new Housing First National Implementation Plan covering the period 2022-2026 was published in December 2021. The plan provides for a further 1,319 tenancies over this period and the report for Q1 2023 shows that a total of 309 tenancies have been created since the launch of the Plan.
I have introduced further measures to increase supply - thus preventing homelessness in the first instance - including the Tenant-in-Situ acquisition scheme, Cost-Rental Tenant-in-Situ, First Right of Refusal, and Targeted Leasing.
The Housing Agency has also completed a good practice guide for Street Outreach for local authorities. This manual will assist regions in expanding outreach services into those urban areas in which rough sleeping is understood to be a concern.
Ultimately, increased supply across all tenures is key to eradicating homelessness. Housing supply is increasing under Housing for All. Record State investment of €4.5bn will be made available in 2023 to support the largest State home building programme ever, with 9,100 direct build social homes and 5,500 affordable homes.