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 net housing need figure at present shows that 98,318 households were in need of social housing support at 31st March 2011. To see a more detailed account of the figures for Ireland please click here.
Homeless Figures for Dublin
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is responsible for the enumeration of people who are homeless in Dublin. The last assessment of homeless took place in March 2011 in partnership with the Central Statistics Office. This will be the first time that homelessness has been included in the census. These figures will not be available until 2012.
Counted In, 2008 confirmed that 2,366 adults were accessing homeless services. The research findings were based on a survey carried out in all homeless services between 10 and 16 March 2008. This represents a definite number of persons that were accessing homeless services during the week of the survey.
The objective of Counted In, which had been carried out every three years since 1999, was to provide a comprehensive analysis on homelessness in Dublin to assist in the planning, coordination and configuration of services across the Dublin region.
Since Counted In, 2008, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has established the Pathway Accommodation and Support System (PASS), which is an online system that generates vital information in terms of managing access to accommodation. The system provides 'real-time' information on homeless presentation and bed occupancy across the Dublin region. This therefore provides a more enhanced and up-to-date way of enumerating the number of people in accommodation services and accessing day services on a 'live' basis.
In addition to the PASS system, the DRHE are using a range of other data sources to include the most recent count on rough sleeping (November 9 2011) to conclude a comprehensive Assessment of Need, which will work to reconcile the data between those who are accessing homeless services and those who are registered on the local authority housing list. The preliminary findings of the Assessment of Need will be available in early 2012.
Rough Sleeping
There were 87 persons confirmed to be sleeping rough on the night of the most recent count on November 9, 2011, which is an increase on the overall trend of rough sleeping confirmed in counts that have taken place since November 2007. The level of rough sleeping in Dublin had been on a downward trend and had remained relatively static since 2009. the figure from the rough sleeper count in April was 60 persons and November 2010 was 70 persons. The count takes place every six months. If you would like to volunteer for the count, please contact tadhg.kenehan@dublincity.ie
The Regional Contact and Outreach Service (RCOS) are working to engage with all individuals that were confirmed to be sleeping rough on the night of the count. The service will contact those rough sleeping, as often as possible with the specific goal of moving people into accommodation through teh Dublin City Council Central Placement Service (CPS) and Assessment and Placement services across the Dublin region. Whilst in accommodation, staff will adopt a case management approach and engage with the person to identify supports that may need to be put in place.
The next count on rough sleeping will take place in April 2012.
If you know someone who is rough sleeping, please contact the Regional Contact and Outreach and Service on 01 872 0185.