Homelessness
The Housing Executive provides a range of ancillary services to individuals who qualify for homelessness assistance. They may offer temporary accommodation and may protect personal propertyies of individuals when there is a risk of loss or damage to personal property due to the inability to protect it or deal with it, and no other suitable arrangements have been or are being made.
Social services may provide emergency assistance to individuals in urgent need. Social services are responsible for making assistance available to the extent they consider necessary.
Several private organizations and charities offer support to homeless individuals. Many charities assist homeless people in gaining access to private accommodation, including providing assistance by way of a deposit or rent advance. The Housing Executive administers the Supporting People program on behalf of the Department of Social Development, which provides funding for individuals in need of support and accommodation.
Certain eligible groups include persons with learning and physical disabilities, older persons, and younger persons in care. The program aims to commission housing support services developed in line with service users’ needs.
The scheme provides support in various flexible ways, including assistance, counseling, advice, and help with dealing with landlords and money management advisory services. Support services may be provided by housing associations, hospital managers, and social services. Providers must be accredited and competent.
Individuals have the right to review a decision related to their homelessness. The executive must notify a person that they have the right to have the decision reviewed within the specified time limit. The executive may have an interim duty to provide accommodation when the applicant may be homeless and in priority need.
The duty ceases when the housing executive informs the applicant of the homelessness decision. The following categories of decisions may be reviewed: decisions on the applicant’s eligibility for homelessness assistance, what duty is owed to the applicant, the suitability of accommodation offered, and the discharge of the executive’s duty. Other categories of decisions are not reviewable. The request for a review must generally be made within 28 days from the day the applicant is notified of the executive’s decision.
The Housing Executive will reevaluate the decision and provide another opportunity for representations to be made. Regulations may specify that the decision on review is to be made by a person of appropriate seniority who was not involved in the original decision. The applicant is to be notified of the result of the review and given reasons for the decision.