HSE Dublin and Midlands Welcomes Opening of New Community Care Facility for People Experiencing Homelessness at Ushers Island

The HSE Dublin and Midlands Health Region has welcomed the opening of a new community care facility for people experiencing homelessness at Ushers Island, Dublin 8, delivered by the Dublin Simon Community. The facility, which opened in October 2024, represents a major step forward in providing integrated, person-centred healthcare for people who are homeless.

The purpose-built facility is designed to meet the complex health needs of people experiencing homelessness through an inclusion health model, supporting improved health outcomes and helping to reduce premature deaths. When fully operational, the service will provide up to 100 community beds and is being opened on an incremental basis. With the most recent expansion, 75 beds are now operational.

Speaking about the opening, Kate Killeen White, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and Midlands, said:

“This new community care facility at Ushers Island is a landmark development in how we support people experiencing homelessness with complex health needs. It reflects a strong commitment by the HSE and our partners to deliver integrated, compassionate care that meets people where they are, improves access to essential health services and supports recovery, stability and independence. We are proud to work with Dublin Simon Community in delivering a service that will make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.”

The development delivers on commitments set out in Delivering Homes, Building Communities and the National Strategic Plan to Improve the Health of People Experiencing Homelessness, strengthening integrated care pathways between community services, hospitals and homeless supports.

The facility delivers treatment each year across a range of specialist programmes, including addiction detoxification, blood borne virus treatment, stabilisation, low-threshold addiction recovery and step-up/step-down intermediate care. These services help to prevent avoidable hospital admissions, support earlier discharge from acute hospitals and ensure people are discharged into the most appropriate setting for their needs.

Operational funding of €8.5 million was provided by the Department of Health in 2025, with a further €1.84 million allocated in Budget 2026, bringing the total annual investment to €10.4 million. This represents the largest single Department of Health investment in a community care facility for people experiencing homelessness.

The facility is managed by the Dublin Simon Community under a Section 39 service level agreement with the HSE and operates under robust clinical governance arrangements in line with HSE standards. Oversight is provided through the HSE Dublin and Midlands health region, with strong linkages to Dublin’s acute hospitals, primary care services, inclusion health teams and addiction services.

By bringing multiple health, addiction and social care services together in one accessible setting, the Ushers Island facility will improve equity of access to care, support better health outcomes and contribute to a reduction in emergency department attendances and avoidable hospital stays.