COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 12, 2023

QUESTION NO.16

QUESTION: Councillor C. O'Connor

To ask the CEO if any new proposals are emerging to deal with the increasing pressures on Housing and Homelessness in the County and will he make a detailed statement? Charlie O'Connor

REPLY:

The Council continues to work proactively to address the ongoing challenges for households in need of accommodation by increasing new housing supply through partnerships with approved housing bodies, ongoing choice based letting and other allocation options, turning around vacant Council properties for re-letting, supporting HAP tenancies and engaging with landlords on potential tenant in-situ acquisitions.

To date in 2023, there have been 63 allocations to homeless households in South Dublin. In May, there were 17 allocations of which 7 were families (comprising of a total of 7 adults and 15 children) and 10 singles, 3 of which were Housing First Placements. We expect to significantly exceed our 2022 allocations of 71. We currently have a further 74 properties assigned to homeless households in the coming months, of which 20 have been formally offered accommodation so far.

It should be noted that 7 offers of accommodation made to families in emergency accommodation have been refused to date this year.

Our allocation team are prioritising allocations to homeless households, including three and four bed homes to reduce family homelessness, and we are also progressing significant numbers of tenant in-situ acquisitions to prevent further homelessness.

Households at risk of experiencing homelessness should engage with the Council to examine prevention measures including possible alternative accommodation and our Homeless Unit continues to help those who find themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  Working in conjunction with the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DHRE), 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 and we will continue to actively explore further options for the provision of emergency accommodation across the County in collaboration with the DHRE, with a new family hub recently opened in Clondalkin.

In addition, the homeless outreach service operates all year round 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.