September 2023 Monthly Homeless Report and Homeless Quarterly Progress Report Quarter 3 2023 published
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
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From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today (27 October 2023) published the Monthly Homeless Report for September 2023 and the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 3 2023.
The Monthly Homeless Report for September 2023 shows that 12,827 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation, an increase of 136 (1.1%) on the August 2023 total. This includes an increase of 132 single adults and 6 families accessing emergency accommodation during the count week.
The report shows that during Q3 2023, a total of 566 households exited emergency accommodation and 713 households were prevented from entering emergency accommodation, by way of a tenancies being created - respectively year on year increases of 4.2% and 16.3% when compared with the same period last year. Adult preventions increased by 23.2% on the same period last year.
Preventions have been assisted by the introduction of the Tenant in Situ schemes.
The Quarterly Progress report also shows the number of new families presenting to homeless services and the numbers entering and exiting emergency accommodation on a national basis.
Nationally, family presentations decreased 8.5% on Q2 2023 (from 833 to 762). Of the 762 families presenting, 326 (42.8%) of these families were prevented from having to enter emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy having been created. 239 families exited emergency accommodation into a tenancy in the quarter, a 15.5% increase on the 207 families who exited homelessness in Q2 this year.
The Quarterly Report also shows that 46.3% of single households accessing emergency accommodation have been in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months (2,646 of 5,711 single households).
The report also shows progress in implementing the Housing First National Implementation Plan 2022-2026, a key response to ending long-term homelessness among those with complex health and mental health needs. The Housing First Programme provides the most vulnerable of our homeless population with a home for life as well as with key wraparound health and social supports.
A total of 69 new supported tenancies commenced in Q3 2023. Through the programme, there are 945 high-support need individuals, who were formerly rough sleepers or long-term users of emergency accommodation, housed and supported in their own homes.
Commenting on the reports published today, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:
“Those without a home remain the top priority for this government. My department is making funding of €242 million available for the delivery of homeless services in 2024 – a 12.6% increase on the Budget 2023 allocation and we have been clear that there will be no obstacle in funding much needed services. Already we have seen that the Tenant in Situ scheme is effectively preventing people who receive a notice to quit from entering into emergency accommodation and we are extending this scheme into next year also.
“As we can see in our Quarter 3 report, we have significantly increased the numbers of people prevented from entering into emergency accommodation and exits from emergency accommodation are also increasing. Funding for next year will ensure local authorities can continue to provide emergency accommodation and others services to households experiencing homelessness, and – crucially – that even more households at risk of homelessness will be prevented from entering into emergency accommodation and those in emergency accommodation will be supported to exit into secure tenancies as quickly as possible.
“As we can see from the monthly report for September, unfortunately, there has been a further increase in the numbers of people in emergency accommodation and the reasons for this remain varied and complex. The government, local authorities and those in our NGO sectors are working together and making every effort to reduce homelessness. We can see some of this hard work paying off in terms of the significant increases in preventing people from entering emergency accommodation and helping people to exit.
“However, the situation is very challenging and tackling this issue is a government priority. We know that increasing the supply of new homes, particularly social and affordable homes, is key to tackling homelessness. CSO figures published on Wednesday show 22,443 homes were completed in the first nine months of 2023, a 9% increase on the same period in 2022 and the highest number of completions recorded for the first nine months of any year since the CSO data series began in 2011. Commencement figures, published by my department last week show 23,923 new homes commenced construction in the first nine months of 2023 – an increase of 14.3% on the same period in 2022. So we know that supply is increasing and we are going in the right direction.
“Last year we delivered the highest amount of social homes in decades and record delivery of new-build social housing since the mid-1970s. Based on the projections and data available, we are confident that this year we will exceed last year’s performance and post another impressive level of delivery. There is a strong pipeline of over 22,600 social homes either on site or at various stages of design and procurement. All of this will help provide more housing solutions, including for those who are at risk of homelessness.”