COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, September 12, 2022
QUESTION NO. 14
QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor
To ask the Chief Executive how many Homeless cases are currently being dealt with by the Council; will he detail actions being taken and will he make a statement
REPLY:
At the start of August 2022, 515 households, comprising a total of 637 adults and 433 children, were registered as homeless with this Council with the following household breakdown:
| Houshold Composition | No. |
| Single Male only | 261 |
| Single Female only | 62 |
| Couples | 23 |
| Families | 169 |
| Total | 515 |
The recently adopted Dublin Regional Homelessness Action Plan framework outlines the regional response to homelessness through the prevention of homelessness where possible, the supporting of households to progress to sustainable housing options within the shortest possible timeframe, and supporting Housing First as the preferred response to long-term single adult homelessness and rough sleeping.
Our Homeless Unit continues to provide assistance to those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Working in conjunction with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, this unit operates an advice clinic in County Hall and provides outreach services across the County as well as detailing emergency accommodation options including central placement, self-accommodate, family hubs and other supported accommodation. Staff in the homeless unit will organise emergency accommodation for those assessed as homeless through the Assessment and Placement Service.
There are three family hubs are in operation in South Dublin County at present as follows:
- High Street Family Hub (Abberley): a privately managed facility with 58 rooms (including 9 large family rooms) which is currently fully occupied with 54 households
- Firhouse Family Hub: managed by Respond Housing with 20 rooms and currently fully occupied by 20 households.
- Springfield Family Hub: also managed by Respond Housing and which is also fully occupied accommodating 12 households in 12 family rooms.
The Council's outreach service operates all year around for rough sleepers across the County, working with other agencies, including the HSE, in identifying rough sleepers and connecting them with appropriate accommodation and support services and this service will also play a vital role in assisting homeless rough-sleepers during the winter months. In addition, the Council is also committed to the provision of housing first tenancies where appropriate.
Increasing housing supply is critical to meeting current housing need, including for homeless households, and the Council's Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 outlines our approach to meeting the social housing delivery targets set for the Council under the national housing plan, Housing for All along with a commitment to sustained allocation of available properties to homeless households or to prevent homelessness.