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 available information regarding need for services, cost benefits, government policies and directions.
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 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 join 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 its 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 be published on the internet. The plan may be amended, reviewed within a certain period prior to expiry of the older previous plan.