Lack of HSE 'wrap around' support for vulnerable social housing tenants in south Tipperary

Tipperary County Council is being hampered in its efforts to house and support homeless people with mental and physical health issues and addictions in the south of the county, by a lack of staff and services support from the HSE. 

The elected members of the council were informed by Housing Section Senior Executive Officer Cora Morrissey this difficulty the council's Homeless Action Team is encountering at the authority’ s January meeting in Clonmel.

Ms Morrissey explained that the lack of services relates to those homeless people who come under the remit of the Housing First programme.

This programme  aims to address homelessness for people with mental and physical health issues , addictions and other challenges. 

She said Housing First is a three way relationship between the Council, Assisted Housing Bodies which do the  day-to-day management of the housing and  HSE, which should provide “wrap around” supports services to Housing First tenants

Ms Morrissey said in the north of the county there is a dedicated Housing First team including a significant representation of HSE staff members and access to health professionals like a psychiatrist and occupational therapists. 

But in the south of the county the team has little or no such HSE staff and resources to provide these support services to the tenants.  “We haven’t had much success with Housing First tenants in the south because the services are not there for the tenants,” she pointed out. 

On hearing this situation, the elected council agreed to highlight the shortfall in HSE support services for Housing First tenants in the south of the county with the HSE, Government and other local authorities.  

Fine Gael Cllr Marie Murphy  proposed  the council write to the HSE South East highlighting the lack of support and services the HSE is providing for Housing First tenants in south Tipp. 

 She also proposed a copy of the letter be sent to the Ministers for Health and  Housing and other South East councils.  Her proposal was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr David Dunne.