COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, April 15, 2019

QUESTION NO.

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the Chief Executive to confirm how many Tallaght Homeless cases the Council is dealing with at present; and will he detail efforts being made to cater adequately for these applicants and will he make a statement.

REPLY:

The following table provides figures for those registered as Homeless with South Dublin County Council.

	Jan	Feb	Mar
No. of Registered Homeless	624	620	630
Single Male	264	268	274
Single Female	59	59	62
Couples	6	6	7
Families	295	287	287

Our Homeless Unit provides assistance to those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This Unit operates an advice clinic in County Hall and provides outreach and place-finding services across the County as well as detailing emergency accommodation options including central placement, self-accommodate, family hubs and other supported accommodation.

The outreach service for rough sleepers across the County works with other agencies including the HSE in identifying rough sleepers and sourcing appropriate accommodation and support services.  

The place-finding role assists families and individuals either in temporary emergency accommodation or at risk of homelessness to find private rented accommodation using the both Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and the enhanced Homeless HAP as well as engaging with property agents to encourage use of HAP/Homeless HAP to provide the quickest exits from homelessness.

Family hubs are currently available at Tallaght Cross, the High Street, Springfield and Firhouse while Riversdale House and Killininny House provide accommodation for homeless single persons with additional placements are available in 'step down/transitional' accommodation.  Additional supported accommodation is due to open at Kiltipper shortly.

The Housing Department in conjunction with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and other partners continue to look for suitable locations/property throughout the County for use as appropriate emergency accommodation for single persons and families. Additional options to support persons moving on from supported temporary accommodation continue to be explored including the provision of housing first tenancies where appropriate.

Housing supply is the key solution to the current housing/homeless situation and this involves delivery of social homes through our construction programme, complemented by acquisition, Part V, in partnership with Approved Housing Bodies and through various leasing options and the private rental market. In addition, the Housing Department continues to maximise the effectiveness of existing and new social housing stock through allocations and transfers to help address the challenges provided by the current situation.