COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 13, 2017

QUESTION NO.16

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive if he would report to the Council on his efforts to facilitate those homeless from our County confirming the numbers being facilitated and the efforts being made to ensure that these families are accommodated close to their home areas and will he make a statement.

REPLY:

The Council is understanding of the difficulties facing families experiencing homelessness at this time.

Previously the only option available to the Council was to give families presenting as homeless the option to self-accommodate. This enabled families to source their own accommodation in location more suitable to their needs as opposed to be placed in a designated location and also gives families the option to source accommodation outside the County if necessary and should they wish to do so.  Families who present as Homeless are given advice on how the Self Accommodation option operates by staff in the Homeless Unit. This is a practice that will be phased out as alternative accommodation become available. The Council does not have the required resources to source emergency accommodation for families who present as homeless.

Family Hubs are a new model of temporary accommodation for homeless families with assistance to move on to a home of their own. They represent a better, more caring and more cost-effective alternative to commercial hotels and B&B's.  

Hubs are available at Tallaght Cross, The Abberley and Respond Gleann na nEorna in Tallaght. These facilities will when fully complete cater for in excess of 100 families.  The DRHE is currently examining the possibility of acquiring another Hub in the County. 

We continue to work with the DRHE and look for suitable locations or property throughout the County which could be used to provide emergency accommodation and will keep the Council briefed. 

While it is not possible to accommodate persons close to their chosen areas close to schools and services etc. all families have recently been provided with a LEAP Card to access public transport.