COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, December 11, 2017
QUESTION NO.10
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive to present an end of year report on his dealings with the homeless crisis giving details of the current numbers involved in that regard and also confirming his efforts to ensure that these families are all being catered for within the County boundary.
REPLY:
The Council is understanding of the difficulties of those experiencing homelessness. Those homeless can be categorised as: families, single persons and rough sleepers.
Families
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 more suitable to their needs as opposed to being 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 the preferred 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 hEorna in Tallaght. These facilities will when fully completed 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.
Single People
Killininney House offers accommodation for single men and additional placements are available as 'step down/transitional' in Gleann na hEorna in Springfield. Other hostel type accommodation is operated through the Central Placement Services and is not in the control of this local authority and as a result the service can only offer the accommodation that is available on any given day.
Rough Sleepers
The most recent rough sleeper count took place in November 2017. Areas identified as being used by rough sleepers by councillors and members of the public were visited to ensure an accurate count.
The Council operates an outreach service and multi-agency approach to address rough sleepers across the County. The Outreach worker works closely with the HSE in particular in identifying rough sleepers and sourcing appropriate accommodation and support services. The needs of rough sleepers are often very complex and challenging and require a comprehensive and coordinated approach. A Homeless Action Team meets which focuses on single persons and known rough sleepers.
Homeless Unit
South Dublin County Council has a unit dedicated to providing assistance to those who find themselves homeless. A clinic is in operation 5 days a week in County Hall, Tallaght. The unit has offered advice and assistance to large numbers in 2017.
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
No. of Registered Homeless |
437 |
447 |
459 |
469 |
461 |
416 |
462 |
465 |
447 |
459 |
|
|
|
Single Male |
192 |
193 |
201 |
202 |
204 |
181 |
207 |
210 |
207 |
203 |
|
|
|
Single Female |
48 |
46 |
51 |
52 |
54 |
46 |
47 |
50 |
48 |
47 |
|
|
|
Couples |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
|
Families |
195 |
206 |
205 |
213 |
199 |
182 |
198 |
194 |
181 |
199 |
|
|
This housing crisis has placed great demand on all social housing units available in the County. The Homeless Unit with assistance from the other housing agencies, and by supporting applicants to access the HAP scheme, have been able to move large numbers into long term social housing and other tenancies using the HAP scheme. These are detailed in the table below:
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
TOTAL |
|
No. Allocations |
8 |
17 |
22 |
8 |
39 |
20 |
37 |
37 |
36 |
40 |
|
|
264 |
|
REFUSALS OF HOUSING |
|
|
2 |
2 |
13 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
35 |
|
Social Housing |
6 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
17 |
2 |
12 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
|
|
66 |
|
AHB |
|
4 |
1 |
|
6 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
15 |
11 |
|
|
51 |
|
Homeless HAP |
2 |
7 |
20 |
2 |
16 |
12 |
19 |
27 |
15 |
27 |
|
|
147 |