Homelessness Action

Homelessness Action Plan

Housing authorities must adopt a homelessness action plan.  It must set out measures to deal with and reduced homelessness, provide services to persons to address the needs of homeless households, provide assistance to persons formerly homeless and promote active coordination and activities for  the purpose of addressing homelessness.

The measures must be taken in conjunction with other agencies, including housing bodies and the HSE. The homelessness action plan must be in writing and take account of the available information regarding the need for services, cost benefits, government policies and directions.

The Homeless Action Plan is made under the Housing Act as amended. It must specify the steps to be taken in relation to homelessness within the council’s functional area. The steps may be by the Authority, itself, the HSE or other agencies or approved bodies.

The objectives may include

• prevention of homelessness
• reduction of homelessness extent and duration
• provision of services including accommodation to address the needs of homeless households
• provision of assistance necessary to persons who were formerly homeless
• promotion of effective cooperation

The plan must be specified in writing to take account of factors including available information, costs and resources, governmental policies and ministerial directions.

Consultation Forum

Housing authorities must establish a homelessness consultation forum.  The Forum is to advise in relation to implementation, operation and possible variations in the homelessness action in the council area.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides a statutory structure.The Act outlines a statutory obligation to have an action plan in place and the formation of a Homelessness Consultative Forum and a Statutory Management Group.

Housing authorities must form a Consultative Forum appointing members and a chairperson. It is to include employees of the housing authority, of the HSE and nominated persons who provide services to homeless persons in the area. The forum has an advisory role in relation to the implementation and updating of the Homeless Action Plan.

There may be a single joint forum which would advise and consult on the Homeless Action Plan of all the housing authorities who are party to the arrangement. The Minister can require the establishment of such a body, if he considers by reason of the nature and extent of homelessness and other factors, that sharing of services would ensure the most beneficial effect and efficient use of resources. One party may be appointed lead  and responsible authority with the agreement of others.

Action Plan

The chief executive/county manager is to prepare a draft action plan . Earlier plans may be continued in relation.  The management group must consult with the forum elected members, and others.  It is to prepare a homelessness plan and submit it to the authority or authorities in the case of a joint forum.  The authority may adopt the same with or without modifications within six weeks.

There are provisions for amendments by the authority.  They must request the management group to approve the change. The group may consult other members of the forum in considering the request. It is to notify the authority in writing of its decision.   The authority may then adopt a plan with or without modifications in accordance with the management group’s decision.

The plan must be made available and published on the Internet. The plan may be amended and reviewed within a certain period prior to the expiry of the older plan.

Management Group

A Management Group management group may be appointed from the membership of the consultative forum. It is to liaise with relevant parties in relation to the preparation of the plan and consult with other members of the forum. The management group is to consult with members of the consultative forum. It  may consult Housing Authorities in the adjoining functional areas.

The group is  within 10 weeks of the date of initiation,  to approve and submit a draft plan to the housing authority or adjoining authorities. The Housing Authority is to adopt it within six weeks.

Adopting and Changing Plan

If it wishes to modify the plan, the Authority is to send a request to the chairperson setting out the changes. The management group has three weeks to consult other members of the forum, accept or reject the variation and notify the Authority of its decision. The Authority has six weeks to adapt the plan with or without modifications according to the in accordance with the management group decision.

Copies of the adopted plan must be provided to various parties including the Minister and the consultative forum. It is to be published on the Internet.

The Housing Authority can review and amend the existing plan. The review must be initiated and completed at least eight months before the current plan is to expire.

Dublin Area

The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive is formed by the four Dublin councils with the HSE, the prison service, probation service, Department of Social Protection, Department of Children,  Irish Council for Social Housing, Threshold, Education and Training Boards, Homeless Network together constituting the consultative forum,from which the management group is formed.

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is provided by Dublin City Council as the lead statutory local authority in the response to homelessness in Dublin and adopts a shared service approach across South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown County Council.

The funding estimate for homeless service provision in 2023 is estimated at €226.2 million. All services that we fund have a service level agreement in place. It  established the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), which is an online system that generates vital information in terms of managing access to accommodation. The system provides ‘real-time’ information in terms of homeless presentation and bed occupancy across the Dublin region. It provides the placement service for all persons in emergency accommodation and publish the homeless figures.

Dublin Plan

In line with Chapter 6 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Dublin Joint Homelessness Consultative Forum and Management Group adopt the regional action plan for Dublin.

Central to this action plan are five key strategic aims as set out in national homeless policy;

• Prevent homelessness
• Eliminate the need for people to sleep rough
• Reduce the length of time people experience homelessness to less than six months.
• Meet unmet housing need of people experiencing homelessness through an increase in housing options that delivers affordable, accessible housing with supports as required.
• Ensure the delivery of services for homeless people that meet their needs, produce the sought-after, person-centred outcomes required and can demonstrate their effectiveness through monitoring and reporting arrangements.