Ireland

“Homelessness Strategy and Data: A Two-way Process”

Denis Conlan & Marie FalveyHousing DivisionDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.

Part 1Part 1Background - economy, housing Background - economy, housing

market, homelessnessmarket, homelessnessGDP - GDP - actualactual & & forecastforecast

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 f 2010 f 2011 f 2012 f 2013 f

House building as % GDPHouse building as % GDP

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

residential investment to GDP long run average

Public Finances – Public Finances – surplussurplus to to deficitdeficit

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 f 2010 f 2011 f 2012 f 2013 f

% G

DP

Homelessness TrendsHomelessness Trends

Dublin Homeless (“Counted In” survey) as % of populationDublin Homeless (“Counted In” survey) as % of population

Gross countGross count 2008: 0.5%2008: 0.5% 2005: 0.5%2005: 0.5%

Excluding long-term & transitional accommodationExcluding long-term & transitional accommodation 2008: 0.3%2008: 0.3% 2005: 0.3%2005: 0.3%

Rough sleepersRough sleepers 2009: 98 2009: 98 2008: 110 (0.009%)2008: 110 (0.009%) 2005: 185 (0.016%)2005: 185 (0.016%)

2009 homeless funding2009 homeless funding accommodation relatedaccommodation related

+5.3% nominal+5.3% nominal

+ 29% weighted (relative to all + 29% weighted (relative to all housing funding)housing funding)

4% of housing funding (3% 2008)4% of housing funding (3% 2008)

Homelessness PolicyHomelessness Policy

Homeless Strategy –Homeless Strategy –August 2008August 2008

National Implementation Plan - National Implementation Plan - April 2009April 2009

New model of Dublin Homeless Services - New model of Dublin Homeless Services - June 2009June 2009

New Legislation – New Legislation – July 2009July 2009: Homeless Fora : Homeless Fora and Action Plansand Action Plans

New New “SLI” “SLI” scheme scheme (Support to Live (Support to Live Independently) - July 2009Independently) - July 2009

Part 2 – StrategyPart 2 – Strategy and and Data Data a two-way processa two-way process

Data key to policy, services, monitoringData key to policy, services, monitoring

Progress reports on implementation of Progress reports on implementation of strategystrategy

Strategic approach to data Strategic approach to data

National Implementation Plan – National Implementation Plan – Data and Data and Information StrategyInformation Strategy

Homelessness DataHomelessness DataKey developments and issuesKey developments and issues

MPHASIS –focus on data, timely in MPHASIS –focus on data, timely in Irish contextIrish context

Current developments in Ireland:Current developments in Ireland:Homeless CountsHomeless CountsAssessment CriteriaAssessment CriteriaNational Client DatabaseNational Client DatabaseCensus enumerationCensus enumeration

Homeless CountsHomeless Counts““Counted In”Counted In”

Special purpose homeless countSpecial purpose homeless count

Very inclusiveVery inclusive

In Dublin since 1999In Dublin since 1999

3 further cities in 20083 further cities in 2008

3-yearly; annual counts in 2009 and 20103-yearly; annual counts in 2009 and 2010

““Housing Needs Assessment”Housing Needs Assessment”homeless categoryhomeless category

Part of overall social housing needsPart of overall social housing needs

Homelessness a category of social housing needHomelessness a category of social housing need

Only includes those suited to standard social Only includes those suited to standard social housing optionshousing options

2.5% of social housing needs due to 2.5% of social housing needs due to homelessnesshomelessness in 2008 ( in 2008 (4.6% in 2005)4.6% in 2005)

““HNA” v “Counted In”HNA” v “Counted In”

Different figures – misunderstandingsDifferent figures – misunderstandings

Different purposes of each surveyDifferent purposes of each survey

Scope for more reconciliation and Scope for more reconciliation and convergenceconvergence

Changes to HNA - legislationChanges to HNA - legislation

Homelessness assessment criteriaHomelessness assessment criteria

Application of statutory definition of Application of statutory definition of homelessness being examinedhomelessness being examined

Paper on assessment criteria in Paper on assessment criteria in Dublin to promote consistencyDublin to promote consistency

Consider application nationallyConsider application nationally

National Client DatabaseNational Client Database

New system following review of LINK: New system following review of LINK: less detail, service provider data less detail, service provider data export, regional applicationexport, regional application

New system in Dublin in 2010New system in Dublin in 2010

Next phase – national roll outNext phase – national roll out

National census of population 2011National census of population 2011

Enhanced coverage of homeless in Enhanced coverage of homeless in 2011 census2011 census

Apply methodologies in Apply methodologies in Counted InCounted In and rough sleeper counts – maximise and rough sleeper counts – maximise consistencyconsistency

Take account of reconfiguration of Take account of reconfiguration of servicesservices

Local/regional focusLocal/regional focus

Homelessness Action Plans to be Homelessness Action Plans to be informed by data/evidence reviewinformed by data/evidence review

Monitoring and reporting processMonitoring and reporting process -- Service providers to Homeless Service providers to Homeless

ForumForum– Forum to local authorityForum to local authority– local authority to Departmentlocal authority to Department– Department to CDT, Senior Officials Department to CDT, Senior Officials

Group, Cabinet Committee, ParliamentGroup, Cabinet Committee, Parliament

Future data prioritiesFuture data priorities

Homeless Counts:Homeless Counts: further refinement further refinement assessment criteria guidelinesassessment criteria guidelines Census 2011 homeless dataCensus 2011 homeless data

New client database New client database national roll outnational roll out full participation of all servicesfull participation of all services quality data, user friendly system, training, etc quality data, user friendly system, training, etc

Future Data PrioritiesFuture Data Priorities Quality of information for policy, funding Quality of information for policy, funding

and servicesand services– data on use of homeless services data on use of homeless services – identification of homeless using mainstream identification of homeless using mainstream

servicesservices– accurate identification of needsaccurate identification of needs– those in long term accommodation not those in long term accommodation not

classified homelessclassified homeless

Homeless Strategy implementationHomeless Strategy implementation local Action Plans – data qualitylocal Action Plans – data quality monitoring and reportingmonitoring and reporting