The national housing and homeless charity, Peter McVerry Trust, has welcomed a significant reduction in the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin. Figures released today by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive show that the Spring Rough Sleeper Count, which took place at the end of March and early April, found 92 people sleeping rough across the region. This figure is a reduction on the 125 individuals recorded in Spring 2021.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said “We are delighted to see a 27% reduction year-on-year on the number of people who have been recorded as sleeping rough in Dublin. The Spring Rough Sleeper Count provides a valuable insight, not just on the number of people sleeping rough but also, to their history of engaging with services. It helps ensure that people who may not have linked with services previously are picked up by the street counters.”

Intensive Engagement

“While we have seen a big drop year-on-year there are of course 92 people still sleeping rough. There is, and will be, ongoing and constant intensive engagement with these individuals to ensure we offer them all appropriate support and help. These engagements are about ensuring we reach every individual, link them with appropriate supports and ensure people are placed on housing pathways as quickly as possible.”

“It is also important to recognise the impact that the Housing First model has had on the number of people sleeping rough in Dublin, creating hundreds of tenancies for people in recent years.”

“Housing First is the foremost and most appropriate response to the needs of people sleeping rough and the number of tenancies has grown significantly in the past few years. The aim is to carry on creating more tenancies, offering more pathways to housing with intensive, multi-disciplinary wraparound supports.”

Increased Resources for Housing First

“Housing First is continuing to grow and succeed in Dublin and indeed right across the country. It will play a key role in further reducing the number of people sleeping rough. The establishment of the National Office for Housing First, together with additional resources, as well as the prioritisation of funding towards Housing First units by the Department of Housing, will enable Peter McVerry Trust and other agencies to provide more sustainable housing pathways for people.”