Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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111. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the estimated cost of expanding the Housing First programme to the 1,981 families currently accessing emergency homeless accommodation, and to include in that cost the provision of wraparound services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24139/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing First provides a comprehensive and holistic approach to addressing homelessness for individuals experiencing mental health, physical health, substance misuse, social, behavioural, and other challenges.

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. A key element of the programme is it’s specific targeting of single adults experiencing long term homelessness rather than families. As such, my Department does not hold the details requested.

Housing for All recognises the importance of providing appropriate supports for families and children in emergency accommodation in order to secure pathways out of homelessness. Action 3.18 within the Plan is to identify and provide enhanced tenancy sustainment supports to families experiencing long-term homelessness to help them exit from homelessness and maintain their homes. My Department is delivering this action in conjunction with the local authorities, DCEDIY and Tusla.

Budget 2024 allocated funding of over €242 million for the delivery of homeless services for family and individual households. This funding will support the provision of emergency accommodation and related supports, including increased prevention activity. There are currently 37 family hubs in operation across the county which provide a greater level of stability than is possible in hotel accommodation, with the capacity to provide appropriate play-space, cooking and laundry facilities, communal recreation space, while move-on options to homes are identified and secured. This setting also allows for more intensive supports to be provided where they are needed in areas such as welfare, health and housing services. Local authorities and their service delivery partners work closely with all households in emergency accommodation to support them to secure an exit to a tenancy.

Critical to supporting families to exit homelessness is increasing the supply of housing. Almost 12,000 new social homes were delivered in 2023, through Build, Acquisition and Leasing, including 8,110 new build homes, the highest level of new build social homes in nearly 50 years. Including HAP and RAS, 21,733 social housing solutions were delivered throughout 2023.

Record state investment of over €5bn is available this year to support the largest State home building programme ever, including 9,300 new build social homes.