Breaking point
Ireland's housing services are under enormous pressure as homelessness figures reach a record high. Refocusing funding on the preventative measures outlined here could have a significant impact on the crisis
STRATEGY
Image: Istock
Martin Hannigan
Head of Finance and Corporate Services, Dublin Simon Community
The homeless and housing crisis is at breaking point. The most recent government statistics for August show a new record high of 10,805 homeless adults and children across Ireland.
Increased funding and resources for housing, homelessness and health is critical to help ease this crisis, but there is also a major shift required in the way we respond to homelessness. Here are some of the key challenges and potential solutions.
In 2021, across Dublin, 17 times more funding was spent on emergency accommodation (80% of total budget) than on prevention and tenancy sustainment supports. It is crucial this dynamic changes and prevention becomes a central part of our response to homelessness. To do this, dedicated prevention funding is needed on a national and local level, underpinned by a steady supply of housing for people to live in.
Sustainable exits
Ensuring people have a sustainable exit and do not return to homelessness is of equal importance in terms of prevention.
The most sustainable option we can offer is secure affordable and social housing, and this must be achieved in tandem with a drastic reduction in our reliance on the private rental market.
In the interim, while housing is being developed, we need to ensure the private rental market is as secure and accessible as it can be.
Health needs
As the homelessness crisis has grown exponentially over the last decade, health funding has stagnated.
Both the Programme for Government and Housing For All contain very welcome commitments involving the Departments of Housing, Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to improving health outcomes for people who are homeless: “A key commitment is for the Department of Health and the HSE to work with the DHLGH to assess and commit dedicated multi-annual funding and resources to deliver the required health and mental health supports.”
The health of people who are experiencing homelessness must be a priority. Similarly, in the experience of Dublin Simon, it is very common for our client group to have multiple complex needs related to their health.
Internal analysis on the support needs of clients in our short-term accommodation showed that 53% had some requirement for mental health support, while 23% had both mental health and addiction support needs and 19% had mental health, physical health and addiction support needs.
10,805
7,585 homeless adults and 3,220 children across Ireland in August
x17
In 2021, across Dublin, 17 times more funding was spent on emergency accommodation (80% of total budget) than on prevention and tenancy sustainment supports.
53%
of Dublin Simon clients have some requirement for mental health support
23%
of Dublin Simon clients have mental health and addiction support needs
19%
of Dublin Simon clients have mental health, physical health and addiction support needs
Right homes in the right places
Another priority is to ensure the housing built over the coming years is integrated, sustainable and meets the needs of our population. In Dublin for example, over half of the population in need of social housing are single adult households, so development of one-bedroom units must reflect this.
It is important to assess housing allocations against a person’s needs and personal circumstances, with flexibility to adapt to those needs as they move through life.
Finally, given the scale of housing required against a back-drop of the current challenges, it is imperative that the property development process is as efficient as possible.
To help address these key challenges across homelessness, health and housing, we have worked with partners to provide the following recommendations for how the impact of public funding could be maximised:
Homelessness
- Create a dedicated funding line for prevention in each local authority, amounting to 20% of all homeless expenditure.
- Review Homeless Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rates in line with market rents and adopt the changes to the singles limit which was announced for mainstream HAP.
- Continuously invest in a housing-led approach, ensuring secure, single-unit accommodation and appropriate wrap-around support is rapidly provided.
Health
- Provide a ring-fenced homeless-specific health budget, ensuring adequate funding for physical health, mental health and addiction support.
Housing
- Increased provision of one-bedroom units in all residential developments, in line with local Social Housing Needs Assessments.
- Invest in Designed for Life Developments that can accommodate a household’s changing needs as they progress through life.
- Appoint a planning officer per planning application for the entire process.
- Fund an assessment of the type/quota of housing required in each local area and create a register based on this to inform proposed private developments.
- Encourage retail unit planning exemptions and support developers to access and understand the opportunities for ground floor residential units.
To help address these key challenges across homelessness, health and housing, we have worked with partners to provide the following recommendations for how the impact of public funding could be maximised:
Homelessness
- Create a dedicated funding line for prevention in each local authority, amounting to 20% of all homeless expenditure.
- Review Homeless Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rates in line with market rents and adopt the changes to the singles limit which was announced for mainstream HAP.
- Continuously invest in a housing-led approach, ensuring secure, single-unit accommodation and appropriate wrap-around support is rapidly provided.
Health
- Provide a ring-fenced homeless-specific health budget, ensuring adequate funding for physical health, mental health and addiction support.
Housing
- Increased provision of one-bedroom units in all residential developments, in line with local Social Housing Needs Assessments.
- Invest in Designed for Life Developments that can accommodate a household’s changing needs as they progress through life.
- Appoint a planning officer per planning application for the entire process.
- Fund an assessment of the type/quota of housing required in each local area and create a register based on this to inform proposed private developments.
- Encourage retail unit planning exemptions and support developers to access and understand the opportunities for ground floor residential units.
To repeat, the homelessness and housing crisis is at breaking point and it is imperative that we find a way forward. Despite the challenging times we all face, it is possible to turn things around and help the thousands of people – adults and children – who are homeless. But the time for action is now.
Working together with key stakeholders such as the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, HSE, the Housing Agency, construction sector and Approved Housing Bodies, this can change. Let’s work together to resolve this housing and homelessness crisis.
“Despite the challenging times we all face, it is possible to turn things around and help the thousands of people – adults and children – who are homeless.”
