Winter 2023 count of people who are sleeping rough in the Dublin Region

The Official Winter Count of people sleeping rough in the Dublin Region was carried out over the week of the 6th to 12th November, 2023.

A total of 118 unique individuals were confirmed as rough sleeping across the Dublin region over the week of the count.

This represents an increase of 27 individuals (30%) on the same period last year, with 91 individuals found to be rough sleeping during the week-long Winter Rough Sleeper count on the week of November 7th to November 13th 2022.

The count was arranged by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) and carried out by the Dublin Simon Community Outreach Team.

Additional Outreach workers were deployed to ensure intense coverage of city centre areas.

Staff in all four Dublin local authorities and An Garda Síochána provided additional information about people who were rough sleeping, especially those in isolated areas.

Of the 118 people met rough sleeping, 114 (97%) had previously been assessed or were assessed during the count week by the Local Authority, while the Outreach team are actively engaged with the remaining 4 persons.

The main characteristics of the 114 individuals with PASS IDs were as follows:

• The majority of the people confirmed as rough sleeping were male, Irish and aged between 26-45 years.
• 82% were linked with one of the four Dublin local authorities.
• 39% were using tents and 61% were not.
• 18 individuals (16%) were found rough sleeping in both the Winter 2023 and Spring 2023 counts. A number of these are being targeted for a Housing First response, which will provide them with permanent housing and visiting supports to help them sustain their home.
• 2 individuals (2%) were recorded as rough sleeping and having an active tenancy compared to the March 2023 count where 4 individuals (5%) had a tenancy.
• In the November 2023 count, 28 individuals (25%) had an Emergency Accommodation booking they did not access over the count week. A further 11 individuals (10%) accessed Emergency Accommodation during the November 2023 count week.
• 64 individuals (56%) had a booking for Emergency Accommodation at some stage in the three months prior the count, of which 11 individuals (10%) did not present (i.e. were noshows).

It can take several intensive engagements by the Outreach team with people who are rough sleeping to support them into emergency accommodation, but in the vast majority of cases the team are successful in doing so within a short time frame.

88% (n=100) of those found rough sleeping during the Winter 2023 count had booked homeless accommodation in the past, 56% (n=64) at some time in the 3 months prior to the count, and 34% (n=39) had an open booking for emergency accommodation on at least one of the nights they were found to be sleeping rough.

The number of people rough sleeping in the Dublin Region changes from night to night.

While there is a core group who regularly sleep rough, and may or may not engage with services, there is a larger group that moves between rough sleeping, accessing emergency accommodation, sleeping in insecure accommodation, and staying with family or friends.

Others may engage in rough sleeping for a very brief transitional period. Conducting this count over a one-week period provides more information on the different experiences of people who engage in rough sleeping.

The DRHE sincerely thanks Dublin Simon Community, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and staff in the four Dublin Local Authorities for the co-ordinated response to end rough sleeping.

The full report is available o the DRHE website: www.homelessdublin.ie