COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 14, 2014
QUESTION NO.43
QUESTION: Councillor Charlie O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to report to the Council on plans to deal effectively with Homelessness throughout the County?
REPLY:
Under the reconfiguration of homeless services in compliance with the Dublin Region Homeless Strategy (Pathway to Home), the function of Initial Homeless Assessment and Emergency Bed Placement was devolved from the HSE to the local authorities. In response, SDCC established a dedicated Homeless Services Unit (HSU) with responsibility for:
- Initial Assessment;
- Prevention;
- Emergency Bed Placement;
- Identification of all housing options available;
- Homeless Allocations;
- Support to maintain tenancies through visiting support services ie SLI / HAIL & Sonas (Specialised Visiting Support)
The HSU operates a drop-in service between the hours of 10 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm Monday to Friday, where a member from the team will meet with persons at risk for homelessness for advice; information and if assessed necessary emergency accommodation.
All families placed into private emergency accommodation (PEA) are referred to Focus Ireland Homeless Action Team who will assertively engage with the family to complete a Holistic Needs Assessment; identify all housing options available and ultimately support them out of homelessness.
All Supported Temporary Accommodation (STA) and Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) provide a key-working service to undertake the required Holistic Needs Assessment, ensure registration with local authority and that the Assessment of Housing Need is complete in preparation for move-on into independent living. All residents are allocated a project key-worker for the duration of their stay (up to 6 months) to help link into the mainstream healthcare; welfare; education and training services as required. In 2013, SDCC officially opened its first Supported Temporary Accommodation (STA) in the Tallaght area which is managed by the Peter McVerry Trust on behalf of the Council.
Support to Live Independently (SLI) is a service provided by Dublin Simon Community in partnership with the local authorities to provide visiting support to homeless services users moving from homelessness to independent living in the community. A housing support worker provides key-working sessions to give practical support on how to find local and community services and supports concentrating on tenancy issues; independent living skills; welfare rights and budgeting; training education and employment and legal issues. HAIL provide a specialised visiting support service for services users with diagnosed mental health conditions and SONAS provide a specialised visiting support service for women and children made homeless through fleeing domestic violence. SDCC continue to operate a full tenancy sustainment service in partnership with Focus Ireland.
SDCC has recently extended its Outreach Service to include drop-in clinics in partnership with Clondalkin Tus Nua and Killinarden-CARP. Clinic hours as follows:
| Clondalkin Tus Nua, New Nangor Road, Clondalkin, D22 | Wednesday | 2.30pm to 4.00pm |
| Killinarden CARP, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, D24 | Friday | 9am to 1pm |
Sophia and SONAS Housing Associations continue to provide long-term supported and semi-permanent on-site supported housing for families assessed as requiring supported housing.
Saoirse Women's Refuge and Cluan Alainn operate supported accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Focus Ireland Tallaght Homeless Advice Unit, continue to operate their advice, information and advocacy service based in Tallaght Village.
In September 2013, SDCC re-established the South Dublin Homeless Forum. The Forum includes membership from across the statutory and voluntary agencies. Through this interagency approach the Forums focus is on prevention strategies, accessing accommodation and support to maintain tenancies (all tenure types).