A statement has been issued by The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DHRE) following the death of a homeless man in Dublin city centre yesterday.

The DHRE on the behalf of the four Dublin local authorities,  would like to extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Jonathan Corrie, who tragically died yesterday, Monday December 1^st 2014, whilst sleeping rough on Molesworth Street in Dublin 2.

Statutory and state-funded voluntary homeless services made a significant number of interventions with Mr. Corrie, in particular, the provision of holistic and assertive on-street assistance through the Housing First Service. Repeated offers of emergency accommodation were provided, however, Mr. Corrie did not avail of these, as was his right.

The DRHE have outline the key responses that are in place to address rough sleeping in the Dublin region as follows:

1. Additional Emergency Accommodation

An additional 38 emergency beds have been put in place, with arrangements forthcoming to provide 126 extra beds by end 2014 (to include provision for Cold Weather Initiative). This is in addition to the provision of 1,526 emergency accommodation beds across the Dublin region (data 11.11.2014 Winter Count on Rough Sleeping).

This is to continue the effort to respond to the increase in demand for homeless services across the Dublin region

1. New Housing First Service

The new state-funded Housing First Service has been in place in the Dublin region since October 1^st 2014 and is on the street every day, working to support people who are rough sleeping into accommodation. The team can be contacted on 086 1737339 (outreach emergencies 086 8139015 out-of-hours service)

If a member of the public would like to make the Housing First Service aware of a person who may be sleeping rough in the Dublin region, who is in need of assistance, please contact the confidential weblink on http://www.homelessdublin.ie/report-rough-sleeper

1. Central Placement Service, Homeless Services, Dublin City Council

This assessment and placement service is available during the day in Parkgate Hall, 6-9 Conyngham Road, Dublin 8 for individuals and families presenting as homeless in the Dublin City Council area. In addition, assessment and placement services are in place in the housing departments of South Dublin County Council, Fingal County Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

For access to emergency accommodation contact  FREEPHONE 1800 707 707, this includes an out-of-hours service.

1. Expanded Cold Weather Initiative

An expanded annual Cold Weather Initiative is in place since the 1st November 2014 and will run until the end of March 2014. It provides an emergency humanitarian response to the needs of persons who may be sleeping rough during cold weather. It provides dedicated additional beds to the existing number of beds available on a nightly basis in the Dublin region.

The Initiative aims to support individuals, who may not access the current range of services including persons who tend not to engage with homeless accommodation providers or day services or persons who may be ineligible in terms of social welfare benefits and find themselves in very vulnerable situations without accommodation.

1. Housing Supply

Consistent work has been taking place with the four Dublin local authorities, in utilising all procurement initiatives available to them. This is to ensure that longer-term tenancies/ housing can be provided for persons, who been residing in emergency accommodation. From January to September 2014 (end Quarter 3), 545 individuals moved back into independent living, this includes:

• Local Authority Lettings
• Approved Housing Bodies (AHB) Lettings
• Long-term Supported Accommodation
• Private Rented

1. Housing Assistance Pilot (HAP)

 The Housing Assistance Pilot is being introduced for people who have a long-term housing need and who qualify for social housing support. It will be administered by housing authorities and will eventually replace long-term rent supplement

The Dublin region will have the HAP pilot for homeless households operational in December. This pilot is targeted at long-term homeless households in Dublin, who currently reside in temporary emergency accommodation. By accepting HAP the household will retain their place on the housing transfer list of the relevant local authority.

1. Prevention

The reasons for people becoming homeless are both complex and wide ranging.  However, there is a particular risk for families with tenancies in the private rental sector. The DRHE, on behalf of the four Dublin local authorities set up a preventative initiative provided by Threshold’s Tenancy Protection Service  and we would strongly urge all families who are worried about losing their tenancy, to contact this dedicated service for support on FREEPHONE 1800 454 454, as soon as they feel that their tenancy may be at risk.