Implementing Dublin Housing First
Adrian Quinn
Homelessness in Dublin
Confirmed Rough Sleeping
212.5
• Unprecedented rise of family
homelessness
170
127.5
• Single homelessness increasing
85
• Numbers of individuals rough
sleeping in Dublin region
average 102.9 since 2011
42.5
0
Q4 2014
• Long-term homelessness a
persistent problem
Q1 2015
Q4 2015
Q1 2016
Q3 2016
Current minimum estimates >150 per night
Next official RSC Q3 2016
Homelessness in Ireland and Dublin
•
Over 6,000 people homeless
•
Dramatic rise in family homelessness
•
Continued rise in adult and youth homelessness
Dublin: A distressed housing market
Social housing need
Private rented sector: rent increases
Mortgage arrears
Negative equity
2016
51.3%
rent
increases
Unfinished housing estates
2010
 LACK OF SUPPLY
Housing First in Ireland: an overview
Dublin Housing First Demonstration
Project (DHFDP)
•
April 2011-2014
•
Aim was to support 30 adults with
histories of rough sleeping
•
Independent evaluation
(Greenwood, 2015)
 The DHFDP led to, and informed, the continuation
of the service beyond the demonstration phase.
Dublin Housing First: FI & PMVT
Dublin Housing First was established
in October 2014
Four dimensions to service
1.
2.
3.
4.
Housing First Intake
Intensive Case Management
Clinical
Housing Management
Service Model
1. Housing First Intake
HF Intake Team operate under 2 directives:
1: Housing First: to support long-term,
entrenched rough sleepers to transition into
housing
2: Harm reduction approach to those who have
no accommodation that night
Importance of early engagement and building
trust with those sleeping rough
Clinical team
7am-1am (7 days a week)
2. Intensive Case Management
Supporting HF participants both
before & after they transition into
housing
Coordination of intensive, tailored
supports as appropriate
1:10-12 staff/participant ratio and
continual, flexible support
Continuation of Intake staff member
to ICM team
Focus is on engagement, relationship
building and recovery, holistic/tailored
support provision and community
integration
3. Clinical
Expertise in addition, mental health, nursing and counselling
In-house and linked across all dimensions of DHF service
Positive uptake of engagement with clinical team to date
Housing not dependent on abstinence or sobriety
Requirement for housing: pay rent and engage with ICM once a week
Counselling
Addiction
Nursing
Mental Health
4. Property management
Team source accommodation for HF
programme
Housing management
Maintenance and repairs
Rent
Deals directly with HF participants
Kept separate from treatment
Dublin Housing First: Outcomes
•
Positive housing and recovery outcomes
•
To date, there are 58 participants in stable tenancies through Dublin Housing
First
•
Intake team engaged with a total of over 1,700 individuals during 2015
•
An additional 55 have been assessed and are waiting for housing
Housing Acquisition
•
52 units
•
Majority local authority housing (n=26)
•
Focus Ireland /PMVT Housing (n=11)
•
Approved Housing Bodies (n=8)
•
Low uptake within private rented
sector. Some improved access in Q3
2016 (n=6)
Case Study: Kevin (pseudonym)
Kevin’s background:
•
60 years old
•
Sleeping rough for 18 years.
•
‘Hard to reach’ and ‘service resistant’.
Service approach:
•
Intake team sought to work on relationship-building
•
Respect for his space and boundaries.
•
Offered housing twice.
•
Service continued after refusal of housing.
Kevin’s transition to housing
•
Offer of housing to suit Kevin’s needs
•
12-months of consistent engagement
•
Intake team member transitioned to his case manager
•
Quality relationship and trust with ICM manager – Kevin is
starting to reveal more about his past life (severe anxiety
and alcohol use)
•
Housed for 9 months
•
Engaging with clinical team
•
Christmas 2015, he hosted his parents for dinner.
Summary: Implementing Dublin Housing First
• Areas of strengths:
– Positive housing and recovery outcomes
– Targeting the most entrenched rough sleepers
– Patient engagement with those sleeping rough (formal case load and
‘aspirational’ case load)
– Continuation of staff to ICM team
• Challenges & recommendations:
– Sustainable housing delivery
– Lack of diversity of tenure types
– Continued rise of family, youth and adult homelessness: increased
prevention required
– Right to Housing
Thank You