NOVAS’ Housing First Service, Supporting Homeless People To Live Independently In Limerick, Is Launched

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Maria O’Dwyer, NOVAS Board Member; Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, T.D.; Anne Cronin, NOVAS’ Head of Homeless Services; Cllr. Joe Leddin

On Tuesday 14 June NOVAS launched its Housing First service in Hook & Ladder, Sarsfield Street Limerick. The service was launched by Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, TD, who during her period as Minister for State with responsibility for Housing, endorsed Housing First as a means of ending long-term homelessness.

Housing First is an internationally successful model of accommodation provision for formerly homeless individuals. For more than two years, NOVAS has run a very successful Housing First pilot programme with the support of local landlords who provide accommodation for this marginalised group. Intensive support has been provided to tenants, which has afforded independence, self-sufficiency, community engagement and security of tenure. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan noted that it is this ‘wraparound support’ that makes the model so successful and provides ‘security for landlords’ as well as tenants. She praised NOVAS ‘for their dedication to addressing the homeless problem in Limerick for more than decade’.

Michael Goulding, NOVAS CEO; Deputy Jan O’Sullivan

With the support of Limerick City and County Council and the Limerick Homeless Action Team, NOVAS is now operating a Housing First model with a dedicated staff team to support its clients.
Michael Goulding, NOVAS CEO says the organisation ‘offers a range of facilities to ensure successful outcomes for both the tenant and the landlord including a dedicated Housing Support Team, optional rent collection via our National Housing Officer, a 24/7 on-call system for landlords and tenants and an internal maintenance team to complete any unplanned and exceptional repairs.’ Goulding went on to say that the service has had ‘very successful outcomes locally during its pilot phase and the supports offered by NOVAS provides security for both the tenant and the landlord.’ He said that ‘it is our duty to find new and innovative ways of supporting long-term homeless people and a Housing First model tailored to the local environment is one such means in doing this.’

If you would like to learn more about Housing First or have a property you would be interested in letting to a Housing First client you can email housingfirst@novas.ie.