September 2022 Monthly Homeless Report and Homeless Quarterly Progress Report Quarter 3 2022 published

Monthly Homeless Report for September 2022
Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 3 2022
National Homeless Action Committee
Notes

10,975 recorded accessing emergency accommodation in September – a 1.6% increase on previous month
1,343 adults, and their dependants, exited, or were prevented, from entering emergency accommodation in Q3 2022, a 10.9% increase on Q2 2022
the number of new families entering emergency accommodation has increased from Quarter 2 by 2.7%
almost half of both single and family households accessing emergency accommodation on last night of Q3 had been in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has today (28 October 2022) published the Monthly Homeless Report for September 2022 and the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 3 2022.

Monthly Homeless Report for September 2022

The Monthly Homeless Report for September 2022 shows that 10,975 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation in the count week of 19th to 25th September, an increase of 170 (1.6%) on the August 2022 total. There were 7,633 adults and 1,532 families accessing emergency accommodation in the month, including 3,342 children (under-18).

Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 3 2022

The report shows that during Q3 2022, a total of 1,343 adults, and their dependants, exited, or were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. This represents an increase of 10.9% on Quarter 2 2022.

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. Quarter 3 shows a 7.6% increase in the number of families presenting when compared to Quarter 2 (from 654 to 704). The number of new families entering emergency accommodation increased when compared to Quarter 2 by 2.7% (from 402 to 413).

In the Dublin region, family presentations were down 8.9% on the corresponding period in 2021 (from 395 to 360). Of the families presenting, 38.9% of these families were prevented from having to enter emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy having been created. 96 families exited emergency accommodation into a tenancy in the quarter, a 13.5% decrease on the 111 families who exited homelessness in the Dublin region in Q3 2021.

The Quarterly Report also shows that almost half of both single and family households accessing emergency accommodation on the last night of the quarter have been in emergency accommodation for less than 6 months (2,492 of 5,030 single households and 742 of 1,561 family households respectively).

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 53 new supported tenancies commenced in Q3 2022. Through the programme, there are 764 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:

“We are seeing a continued increase in the numbers of people accessing emergency accommodation and the situation is very challenging. The government, local authorities and those in our NGO sectors are making every effort to reduce homelessness. Resources and funding are not an obstacle to the urgent efforts required. To actively address this, Budget 2023 provided funding of over €215 million, an increase of 10% on last year, for the delivery of homeless services. This will ensure that local authorities can not only provide emergency accommodation but importantly homeless prevention measures. It will also ensure they can support households to successfully exit homelessness into secure tenancies.

“Fully aware of the risks of homelessness faced by renters this coming winter, the government has just legislated to protect renters who are facing homelessness by deferring any ‘no fault’ tenancy terminations from taking place this winter. While this emergency measure is necessary and will provide assistance in the short-term, the long-term answer to our accommodation challenges, including combating homelessness, remains an increased and sustainable supply of new housing.

“Increasing social housing and residential housing supply is key. A total of €4.5 billion in State investment has been allocated for 2023 to increase housing supply. We are providing more social homes, completing more homes in general and we have a strong pipeline of housing supply. Almost 28,000 new homes were completed in the 12 months to the end of last month, the highest rolling 12-month total of any comparable period since comparable data were first published in 2011. This supply activity, as well as targeted measures specifically centred on homelessness, will allow us to combat homelessness.

“In addition to our focus on increasing supply, I have introduced a number of measures to help those at risk of homelessness. These include the recent changes to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, to increase the HAP discretion rate to 35% and to expand the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure and expand more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. We have also legislated to increase the Notice to Quit period for ‘no fault’ evictions. The minimum amount of notice a landlord must give a tenant with a tenancy of less than three years duration before evicting them has now been increased from 28 days to three months. I have also made it very clear to Local Authorities that where there is a risk of a tenant(s) being evicted into homelessness as a result of a landlord selling the home that the Local Authority will be supported by the department to purchase the home should that be appropriate.”

National Homeless Action Committee

The Minister reiterated his commitment to working towards eradicating homelessness by 2030. He said:

“The National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair, continues to meet regularly. Joined-up policy and action is key to the delivery of homeless actions, including those under the government’s Housing for All plan.

“A number of measures have been identified and are now being advanced. The forthcoming Youth Homelessness Strategy, which we will publish in the coming weeks, will outline the causes of youth homelessness and what actions are required to help young people who are aged 18 – 24 and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.”

The Quarterly Progress Report is prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level.

Notes

Homeless Report - September 2022

Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for Q3 2022

the Quarterly Progress Report is prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, based on quarterly performance reports submitted by the nine regional lead authorities responsible for the administration of homeless services at local level
children have been clearly enumerated in the monthly homeless statistics since July 2021 so comparisons with previously published data must be qualified, given that they are not directly comparable
the government continues to ensure vacant social housing units are brought back into use as quickly as possible through the voids programme. Investment of over €90 million since the start of 2020 has brought some 6,000 units back into use. Further significant funding is being provided this year. The return to use of vacant local authority will be allocated to those on social housing waiting lists, including those currently in emergency accommodation
the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced. More than 61,900 households are actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,000 separate landlords and agents provide accommodation to households supported by the scheme. The HAP scheme continues to be an effective and secure forms of social housing support and remains a part of the suite of social housing options currently available across the country
the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage also funds Threshold’s National Tenancy Protection Service, which is instrumental in preventing homelessness in the first instance and supporting people to remain in their homes

Housing for All measures to combat homelessness

Under Housing for All, the government’s national housing plan to 2030, the government is committed to providing 47,600 new-build social homes by the end of 2026, and 90,000 social homes by 2030. In terms of social housing delivery:

last year, 9,183 new social homes were provided, a 17% increase on 2020
this year, there is a target to deliver 9,000 new-build social homes, which will be delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies. The government has allocated a record €4 billion in Exchequer funding for housing this year. Minister O’Brien has been consistent in saying we need to decrease our reliance on market subsidies but that we will only do that through significantly scaling up our social housing supply. Housing for All commits the government to delivering 90,000 social homes between now and the end of 2030, including 9,000 new build homes this year
the Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022 was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas this week. The legislation, if signed into law by the President, will defer ‘no fault’ tenancy terminations that are due to occur during the coming winter months from taking effect until after 31 March 2023
it will still be possible to serve a Notice of Termination during this period but the notice will not take effect
where a tenant does not pay rent or engages in anti-social behaviour they will not be protected by this legislation. Where the tenant is at fault, the tenancy can be terminated during the winter subject to the usual notice periods to be given
the legislation will also cover licences/tenancies in student specific accommodation and student tenancies in the general rental market
overall, in 2021, over 23,000 households on local authority housing lists had their housing needs met
the 2021 Summary of Social Housing Assessments showed that 59,247 households were assessed as being qualified for and in need of social housing support (as of 17 November 2021). This figure is down 2,633 (4.3%) from 61,880 households on 2 November 2020. This figure also represents a total decrease of 32,353 (35.3%) since 2016
the government continues to ensure vacant social housing units are brought back into use as quickly as possible through the Voids Programme. Investment of over €90 million since the start of 2020 has brought some 6,000 units back into use. Further significant funding is being provided for a new voids programme this year
the HAP scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been created since the scheme commenced. More than 61,900 households are actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,000 separate landlords and agents provide accommodation to households supported by the scheme. The HAP scheme continues to be an important social housing support and remains a part of the suite of social housing options currently available across the country
Minister O’Brien recently increased the HAP discretion rate to 35% and expanded the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure and expand more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness
in terms of overall housing supply, the government, through Housing for All, targets 24,600 homes being built this year. In the 12 months to the end of September this year, 27,773 new homes were completed, the highest rolling 12-month total of any comparable period since comparable data were first published in 2011
in the past 12 months (October 2021 to September 2022), Commencement Notices for 27,417 new homes were received
latest CSO figures (published 9 September 2022) show planning permissions for all residential dwellings are up 11.4% in the year ending Q2 2022 (44,715) when compared to the same time period to Q2 2021 (40,131)
in response to the challenges arising from constrained housing availability, local authorities have been encouraged to be as proactive as possible to re-use vacant properties through the use of the voids funding programme, local authorities’ own resources as well as the Buy & Renew and Repair & Lease Schemes. Local authorities have been asked to ensure that homeless households are afforded the priority their local authorities allocation scheme affords them when allocating tenancies
the department is supporting local authorities to acquire homes for social housing for priority purposes, including acquisitions which support a household to exit homelessness, or with tenants in situ to prevent homelessness
to enhance security of tenure for tenants, all new tenancies created on or after 11 June 2022 will become tenancies of unlimited duration once the tenancy has lasted more than six months and no valid Notice of Termination has been served on the tenant
recently passed legislation extends the notice periods, by approximately two months, to be given to tenants when serving a notice of termination (where there has been no breach of tenant obligations) in tenancies of less than three years duration.