COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, February 26, 2018

MOTION NO. 11

MOTION: Councillor C. King

"That this Committee calls on the CEO to provide a full report on the evolving issues with Homeless tenants in the Abberley Court Hotel around its status as a “Hub”. That this report include timeframes being advised to tenants on how long they will expect to stay there, what services will be available to them, will they have a housing liaison officer to help them transition to HAP or other forms of housing and any other relevant information the Chief Executive seems important to provide."

REPORT:

"Family hubs are an important first response for families who become homeless and who have no alternative other than commercial hotels. The Abberley Court Hub will provide more appropriate and suitable accommodation for families.  This type of emergency accommodation provides a secure and stable placement for families on an on-going basis unlike the insecurity of hotel accommodation especially during peak periods and holidays.

The use of commercial hotels for families is not ideal and the Abberley Court hub will have the capacity to provide play space, cooking and laundry facilities and communal recreation space when renovations are complete.  All works are due to be completed by April.

This is not a long term housing solution as families will move into houses and apartments that will be provided under social housing support such as HAP.  Once the Abberly Court is launched as a family hub, each family will pay a weekly rent and have the support of a key worker.  In the interim Council staff have begun to visit families in the Abberly Court to support and encourage them to source private rented accommodation using HAP." 

The Council has recently started to visit the families in the Abberley and provides a liaision service for them.  The quesiton of the management and provision of key workers is currently under discussion with the DRHE