COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, November 25, 2019

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor K. Mahon

"To ask the Chief Executive with regard to the Abberley Court Homeless Hub, to please update on the following:

Upgrade works and when they are due to be completed

A breakdown of the number of people and families ( including family size) currently using the facility and their length of time in homelessness in blocks of less than 6 months, 6 months - 12 months, 12 months - 18 months, 18- 24 months, more than 24 months.

What progress is being made in housing large families that are long term in the Abberley?

A breakdown of the "wrap around " services provided at the location- by whom, number of workers, schedule and number of interventions per service user?"

REPLY:

"Upgrade works on the High Street Family Hub (formerly Abberley) are now complete.  9 additional large family rooms are now in use.

The numbers accommodated at the High Street Family Hub vary depending on the size of the families, as multiple rooms are needed for one  family.   Rooms can be out of use as they are prepared for reallocation, maintenance  etc.  At present we have 45 families staying there and this number can change on a weekly basis.   The time spend in the hub varies as some move on quickly to private rented accommodation,  others are not successful with finding rented properties and remain there longer.  Finding a HAP property is the quickest exit route out of homelessness.  There are currently 5 families with a four bedroom need residing in the High Street Family Hub. Of these, 3 families have been offered and refused an offer of social housing deemed by South Dublin Co. Co. to meet their family’s needs.

There are currently 7 families in the hubwho are homeless for more than 2 years. There are 15 families who have been homeless for between 1 and 2 years.  There are 14 families who are homeless between 6 months and 1 year. There are 9 families who are homeless for less than 6 months. These numbers change on a day to day basis as families move on to permanent accommodation and new families move in to the hub.  

Staff are on site from Focus Ireland and provide support for the families.  Each family is invited to meet with the staff on a regular basis to progress their move from homeless services into longer term accommodation.  Contact is ongoing with families  to encourage them to engage with the support service provided.  Large families as with all others in emergency  accommodation have access to the HAP scheme at the higher rate, however it can be more difficult for these to source properties.   

Rooms are available for the local services to meet with clients and where issues arise, referrals are made where appropriate to the alternative services.  Focus Ireland are the body engaged to provide the supports for families in this family hub."