Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1448. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost of expanding the health element of the Housing First programme to fully meet existing need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33371/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Housing First is an initiative for homeless individuals, who have been sleeping rough and using emergency homeless accommodation on a long-term basis, with complex needs (including mental health and addiction needs) that have prevented them from exiting homelessness. The model offers the provision of immediate, permanent and affordable housing to tackle homelessness, and provides appropriate wraparound housing and health supports, and connections to community-based supports, to ensure people maintain their housing and improve their overall health and well-being.

Housing First initially existed across the Dublin region. In 2018 with the assistance of the Service Reform Fund, Housing First was expanded to include Galway, Limerick and Cork. In 2019 the programme was further expanded to include the South-East region.

The Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018–2021 is a collaboration between the Department of Health and Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. It includes a target of over 600 tenancies. I understand that over 50 per cent of those tenancies have already been delivered; and the success rate of the programme through housing sustainment is over 85 per cent, which compares very favourably with the best outcomes achieved by Housing First internationally.

The Department of Health provides annual funding of €36 million to the HSE for the health services and supports for homeless people, which is an increase of €6 million since 2016. From this allocation, the HSE provides funding for health supports for those availing of tenancies through Housing First.

In Budget 2021, I secured €1m for health supports for more than 200 new tenancies under the Housing First programme. as part of an overall allocation of €3.8m for the addiction and health needs of people who are homeless. This funding will further expand Housing First into regional counties and enhance wrap-around health supports for Dublin Housing First tenancies that are not currently covered in the implementation plan.