Written answers

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Housing Schemes

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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489. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of expanding the Housing First Programme to families experiencing homelessness including in that cost the provision of wraparound services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29165/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing First recognises that a stable home provides the basis for recovery in other areas. With Housing First, the priority 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 these issues once they are housed. Housing First has been a key element of Government homelessness policy.  

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 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 high support needs such as mental or physical health problems, addiction issues or dual diagnosis (the presence of mental ill health and a substance addiction).  

The cost of increasing the targets for Housing First would be dependent on the numbers of individuals requiring these supports, the level of support required and where the individuals are located. In this regard, it is important to note that the majority of individuals and families in emergency accommodation do not require the level of supports provided by Housing First. In terms of the costs of funding such an expansion of the Housing First programme my Department does not hold that specific data.

Photo of Joe FlahertyJoe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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490. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if rent supplement payments are a reckonable income when assessing eligibility for social housing supports given that no published guidelines give a definitive answer. [29179/22]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

The 2011 Regulations prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.

Under the Household Means Policy, which was revised in March 2021, net income for social housing assessment is defined as gross household income less income tax, PRSI, Universal Social Charge and Additional Superannuation Contribution. The Policy provides for a range of income disregards, and local authorities also have discretion to disregard income that is temporary, short-term or once-off in nature.

Rent Supplement is a short-term housing payment, for eligible people living in private rented accommodation, which would be discontinued where an applicant receives long-term social housing support. Accordingly, local authorities may disregard rent supplement when assessing a social housing application. 

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