COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, November 26, 2018

QUESTION NO. 20

QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson

"To ask the Chief Executive to report on plans for Homeless Services and emergency accommodation for the Christmas period?"

REPLY:

"The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has responsibility for co-ordinating responses to homelessness on behalf of the four Dublin Local Authorities. In order to meet the increase in demand for homeless services and have the appropriate contingency plans in place for cold weather conditions, the DRHE has activated the Cold Weather Strategy for 2018 for the Dublin Region which enhances the services already available.

Additional beds and units will be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities.

A contingency emergency response is already in place for any family who may be at risk of sleeping rough at night.

Arrangements are in place between the DRHE, the Gardaí, Housing First, Central Placement Service and the HSE with a view to improving outcomes for people that may be sleeping rough.

Services operate throughout the year to support persons who are rough sleeping. However, there is an increased emphasis on the level of service provision during the cold period in order to mitigate against the health risks that people can be exposed to, through rough sleeping in cold weather conditions. The cold weather period provides opportunities for engagement with long-term rough sleepers and hard-to-reach groups, where increased supports need to be available.

During the cold weather period the Housing First Intake Team, operate from 7.00am – 1.00am every day. The Intake Team will increase their staffing for the cold weather period, to enable broader engagement with persons sleeping rough across the Dublin Region. The Housing First transport facility is available to assist in supporting vulnerable people sleeping rough to access accommodation.

These services will operate throughout the Christmas period.

In addition there is a range of rapid emergency accommodation and support measures which will be activated depending on the level of severity and the type of any weather alert (red, orange, yellow) predicted."