Who to contact if you are homeless
About Homelessness
Assessment of Homelessness, Dublin
A periodic assessment on homelessness is carried out every three years to determine the number of people that are experiencing homelessness in Dublin. Surveys were carried out in 1999, 2002,2005 and most recently in 2008.
In March 2008, the fourth periodic assessment of homelessness Counted In, 2008 was conducted across homeless services in Dublin. The survey method used has been developed through partnership with statutory and voluntary sector agencies and it takes place within the broader context of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government assessment of housing need, which is also conducted every three years. The findings from Counted In, 2008 provide a basis from which, we can understand and respond to the changing trends in the number and profile of people experiencing homelessness.
Counted In, 2008 - 2,144 households (2,366 adults) reported to being homeless in Dublin
A total of 2366 adults (comprising 2144 households) were in homeless services in 2008. This is a 4% increase on the 2005 figure (2066 households). Since 2005, Dublin’s population has increased by 5%. Thus, the 2008 homeless population in Dublin represents a decrease of 1% relative to population growth in Dublin city and county.
Currently, just over twice as many men as women are availing of homeless services (68% and 32%respectively). Almost half of the 2366 adults in homeless services (46.7%) became homeless for the first time at some point between March 2005 and March 2008.
110 adults reported sleeping rough
In 2008, a total of 110 adults reported that they were sleeping rough (i.e. 5% of the total homeless population of 2366 adults). When compared with the figures for 2005 (when 185 adults reported sleeping rough), this represents a decrease of 41%. However, it should be pointed out that there is a notable increase both in the number and proportion of non-Irish nationals who reported sleeping rough. When compared with the figures for 2005 (which showed that 9% of those sleeping rough were non-Irish nationals) the 2008 figure represents an increase to over one third (38%) of all rough sleepers as non-Irish nationals.
1388 adults (59%) were resident in either emergency accommodation (617 adults, 26%) or private emergency accommodation (771 adults, 33%).
In addition, 732 adults (31%) were resident in either transitional accommodation (392 adults, 17%) or long-term supported housing (340 adults, 14%).
Counted In, 2005 - 1,361 households (2,015 people) reported to being homeless in Dublin
Counted In, 2005 showed that 1,361 households (representing 2,015 people) reported to being homeless in March 2005. In addition, 346 households were accommodated in transitional programmes. These households, which included single people and families, were mostly surveyed through street outreach teams, the Dublin City Night Bus, emergency accommodation, food centres and day centres, and also included people on the four Dublin local authorities’ homeless lists. This represents a 19% decrease on the 2002 figure, which is in line with a decrease of 22% in the number of cases presenting as homeless to the Homeless Persons Unit in Dublin. The Homeless Persons Unit accepted 1,984 households as homeless over the course of 2005.
Counted In, 2005 showed a decrease in the number of people who reported sleeping rough, from 275 in 1999 to 185 in 2005 (a decrease of 33%). This information was returned mainly from street outreach teams and food and day services that rough sleepers have contact with. While there is still much to be done, it does indicate that the investment by Government in services such as street outreach, food and day centres and the Dublin City Night Bus, is moving the homeless sector closer to the realisation of the Homeless Agency Partnership Vision.
There is no doubt that the 2005 figures show a significant decrease in the number of households experiencing homelessness, however this is not to underestimate the challenge of achieving the vision. In particular, the research has confirmed the predominance of single person households, who have been traditionally less well catered for in social housing provision and for whom, quality accommodation in the private rented sector can be difficult to access and has an inherent risk due to the lack of security of tenure.
Download Counted In, 2005 and download Counted In, 2002
Measuring Homelessness
Measuring the true extent of homelessness is difficult, partly because people who are homeless move frequently and partly because many of them are, by definition are hidden.
In Ireland, local authorities must assess the numbers of people who are homeless in their functional area at least every three years, as part of the more general assessment of housing need. These assessments have been based on administrative data held by local authorities and on information supplied by voluntary bodies and the Health Service Executive.
The Homeless Agency have developed a robust methodology, which was applied for the first time in the 1999 assessment in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. This methodology is based on a week-long survey of people who were in contact with a homeless service and/or registered with a local authority during that week.
The survey collected information on each person contacted, using a unique identifier to ensure that no duplication occured. Demographic information was collected as well as information on the duration of homelessness and type of accommodation used. Questionnaires were returned by service users and the data was analysed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
This methodology is not intended to provide a comprehensive picture of homelessness, which would require much more extensive research. Rather this approach concentrated on establishing baseline information on homelessness at a point in time. It is of primary importance to repeat this methodology over, allowing it to be possible to identify trends in homelessness and assess the effect of policies and other impacts on homelessness in Dublin.
To work in conjunction with this 'point in time' assessment of homelessness, the Homeless Agency developed a more comprehensive database - LINK. This system allows for the collection of information on people who present to homeless services and will allow for more accurate and up to date information to be produced at any given time.