Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing First approach to addressing homelessness places direct access to housing first and foremost for vulnerable individuals using homeless services consistently or intermittently over a long periods of time, and those unable or resistant to accessing homeless services and who may then become habitual rough sleepers. These individuals often have complex support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).

Housing for All committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. The Housing First targets are based on an analysis of need, which involved all key stakeholders and was supported by The Housing Agency. Should the demand for Housing First tenancies increase, my Department will review the further expansion of the scheme.

Data on the number of Housing First tenancies created are published every three months as part of my Department's Homeless Quarterly Progress Reports. The most recent report, for Q4 2023, can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/281950/d663ffb8-9eb0-43d9-b8eb-72b45e94b137.pdf#page=null. This report shows that to date, 560 tenancies have been established under the current National Implementation Plan and 979 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy.

In 2024 there is a target of 261 Housing First tenancies. The 2022-2026 Housing First National Implementation Plan provides a detailed breakdown of these targets broken down by county. A copy of the Plan can be accessed on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/211822/f696f832-6100-4ef4-b75f-cde874caca06.pdf#page=null