COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, January 14, 2019

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Chief Executive to provide an update on the number of families waiting for accommodation in homeless hubs, and to make a statement on the matter. 

REPLY:

There are currently 121 families accommodated in the four family hubs operating in South Dublin at Springfield, Tallaght Cross, Abberly/High Street and Firhouse.

Family hubs are generally viewed as being part of the current response to homelessness by providing a progression from self-accommodation and emergency accommodation allowing those options to become available for other families who may become homeless.  Being accommodated in family hubs then provides families with some time to source more secure accommodation through Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies or social housing.  The sourcing of HAP for these families is now supported by the Council's two placefinders as well as key workers from Focus Ireland for those families in the High Street Hub (Abberly) and Tallaght Cross (managed by Tuath Housing).

As families progress from family hubs to HAP or social housing, places in the hubs are then offered to other homeless families.  There are currently a total of 299 families on the homeless list including the families currently in the family hubs.