COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 14, 2019
QUESTION NO 20
QUESTION: Councillor Shane Moynihan
To ask the Chief Executive to provide a detailed report on the length of time spent by families in Family Hub Accomodation built and managed by the Council before entering more permanent housing and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY:
Four family hubs are in operation in South Dublin County at present as follows:
- Tallaght Cross is a “transitional housing” family hub comprising 64 apartments that provide homeless families with an 18-month transitional tenancy with Túath Housing;
- High Street Family Hub (Abberley) is a privately managed facility with 58 rooms (including 9 large family rooms);
- Firhouse Family Hub has 20 rooms and is managed by Respond Housing;
- Springfield Family Hub accommodates 12 families and is also managed by Respond Housing.
Families staying in hubs are provide with a range of supports and options to help them to move on to more secure accommodation including:
- Access to Choice Based Letting (CBL);
- Access to Homeless Housing Assistance Payments and assistance from the Council’s Place Finder service to source private rented homes;
- Support and advice from allocated keyworkers to assist in their search for alternative accommodation;
The length of time families spend in family hubs varies greatly depending on a range of particular family circumstances including length of time on the Housing List, length of time availing of homeless services (emergency accommodation) prior to moving to a family hub, their level of engagement with support workers and whether or not the family is searching proactively for private rented accommodation through the HAP scheme.
On average across the four hubs, families generally spend approximately nine months in family hub accommodation in the County.