Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 October 2022

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Housing Policy

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

A man called Philip came into my clinic this week. Philip has recently entered recovery and is currently staying in step-down accommodation where he has been for the past six months. However, he must be out of there by next Friday and will then become homeless. When he went into Cork city to present as a person at risk of homelessness, he was told nothing could be done for him because he had been removed from the housing list when he went into recovery and entered residential rehabilitation. Entering into rehabilitation and starting a journey of recovery is one of the bravest things a person can do but for many, housing presents as the number one barrier. If Philip had not gone into rehabilitation, if he had not tried to get out of active addiction, he would still be on the council's housing list, with an opportunity of getting a house.

As the Sinn Féin spokesperson on addiction, recovery and well-being, last year I set about drafting a document on a recovery charter, a charter of rights for those in recovery. It is a comprehensive document that lists what Sinn Féin believes are the rights of those in recovery. I brought a draft of this document to people in recovery and asked them for their opinions. The first thing said by every single person who reviewed the document was that housing needed to be the number one right because it was the number one issue they faced. People are leaving residential rehabilitation and going straight into homelessness. Those who are lucky enough to get shared recovery housing, normally for a period of six months, are often stuck there because they have nowhere else to go. One participant told me that he had been in shared recovery accommodation for over three years. He was stable, had a job and was involved in his community. He had done everything right. His children were in the care of Tusla, which was ready to release them to him but he could not find anywhere to live so he could not get his children back. Both he and his children have been stuck in limbo for the past two years. That story stuck with me because it involves someone who has done everything right and yet he is faced with an insurmountable barrier.

The current Government sometimes says that Sinn Féin does not come up with solutions but we have solutions for this. I ask the Minister of State to instruct all local authorities not to remove people from the housing list who enter residential rehabilitation for the period during which they are in treatment. I also ask the Government to consider a wraparound, own door recovery housing pilot project modelled on the Housing First programme. I ask the Government to treat those in recovery with compassion and to ensure that local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government do the same. These are brave people who are doing their best to create a community and to rebuild their lives. We should be standing beside them and supporting them, not putting barriers in front of them. This is another reason we need a referendum on a right to housing. Recovery housing is vital for people who are on the recovery journey and I ask the Government to seriously consider the requests I have made.

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Gould for articulating the issues so well and for making some very good proposals.

Supporting individuals and families facing housing challenges is a key Government priority. Housing for All commits to a housing-led approach as a primary response to all forms of homelessness and recognises that many of those experiencing homelessness have additional support needs, including addiction. The main focus of the provision of housing to those in need is social housing support, the overarching aim of which is to ensure that households who do not have sufficient resources to meet their accommodation needs are provided with adequate housing. In order to qualify for social housing support, the household must be deemed to be eligible for and in need of support and being placed on a housing waiting list. If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for a suite of social housing supports, including the housing assistance payment, HAP, and is placed on the housing list to be considered for allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority's allocation scheme. The local authority assesses housing applicants, taking into account factors such as the condition and affordability of existing accommodation, medical and compassionate grounds and so on. The authority then prioritises the needs of approved applicants in accordance with its allocation scheme. The allocation of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for the local authority concerned, in accordance with its allocation scheme as per section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2009 and associated social housing allocation regulations of 2011. This legislation requires all local authorities, as a reserve function, to make an allocation scheme which specifies among other things, the manner of an order of priority for the allocation of dwellings to households on the housing and transfer lists.

Recognising that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas, the Government has reaffirmed its support for the Housing First programme, with the launch of a new five-year implementation plan at the end of 2021. The priority for Housing First is to support a person who has experienced homelessness into permanent housing as quickly as possible, without any preconditions around addiction or mental health treatment. Then intensive work continues on the issues once the person is housed. These individuals often have complex, high support needs such as mental health or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnoses, that is, the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction. The implementation of the plan is a joint initiative of the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Health, the HSE, the criminal justice system and local authorities, supported by NGOs.

I was not aware that those entering residential recovery programmes were removed from the housing list on entering such services. I will discuss that with the Department but I was not aware of it. I am also keen to look at the charter the Deputy spoke about. It is important that any positive proposals that come from the Opposition are given serious consideration. I will certainly take those issues on board. The Deputy mentioned wraparound services which is exactly what we are talking about with Housing First. We will shortly be launching a youth homelessness strategy as well.

I wholeheartedly agree that it is paramount that we treat those in recovery with compassion and offer them a full suite of services to help them through that difficult transition phase out of recovery and into sustainable employment and a better quality of life.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The response is not available.

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I did not receive copies of it.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is normal practice for it to be available.

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do apologise.

Photo of Thomas GouldThomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is no problem. I thank the Minister of State for his response, in particular the second half. The first half was Government jargon, but at least in the second half of the response he was genuine in the comments he made which was good to hear. When we are talking about people starting a recovery journey, it is not a political football. These are people who are vulnerable and need support. People in recovery is not a hot topic in politics. It is sometimes an area many people are not interested in or do not want to go near. When we are dealing with people who are in recovery, they need supports.

In the last part of his response, the Minister of State touched on the Government's new homeless strategy and Housing First. The target for 2023 Housing First is 240 tenancies. Our alternative budget brought forward by Deputy Ó Broin and I proposed a figure of 750. That is still not enough, but a target of 240 is unambitious. I ask the Minister of State to speak to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and when they are examining housing first they consider having step down and transition facilities. When people come out of places like Bruree and go into somewhere for six months, they need somewhere to go afterwards as well as wraparound services.

Six out of ten people on the island of Ireland experience addiction in their family, friends or themselves. This is not just about the individual; it is about the wider family and community and us as a State. I implore the Minister of State to examine this issue. I will send him a copy of the document I produced. I would love to work with him.

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would be delighted if the Deputy could send that document on. We will be more than happy to work with him on that. It is a matter for the local authority concerned in terms of the services it provides and the social housing supports it put in place.

As I said, a youth homelessness strategy is due to be launched later this year by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, which includes street outreach services. Under housing first, the target is an average of 264 tenancies per annum, with targets for each region. Homeless services in my constituency are very good at working with local authorities and homeless action teams in ensuring that secure housing is provided, as well as wraparound services. We will shortly deal with a matter from Deputy Cairns around family resource centres. All of these services are absolutely vital to those in recovery and who are trying to stay out of addiction. It is vitally important that we tackle this.

It is a matter for local authorities, as well as our Department, in terms of financing funding and policy supports. It is critically important that we have a full range of services. The term used by the Deputy, "compassion", is critical in supporting individuals and families who are in recovery. We will have a look at the removal of people from the housing list when in residential recovery and come back to the Deputy. I would be more than happy to receive the Deputy's document and speak to him again about this.