Storey lends his support to Homelessness Awareness Week

Date published: 30 November 2015

The Minister was speaking at the start of a week of engagements to mark Homelessness Awareness Week including ‘kicking off’ a Homeless Street Soccer Tournament, presenting the annual goodwill cheque to the Council for the Homeless and marking the efforts of those working in the sector.

The Minister said: “This week marks Homelessness Awareness Week – an important date in the calendar for all those working to address homelessness. The sector does an excellent job each year in raising awareness of this important issue and highlighting the support available. In this important week, I want to reiterate my commitment to addressing homelessness in Northern Ireland.”

The Department for Social Development currently provides almost £36million funding for vital support services including hostels, ‘crash’ beds and outreach services.

The Minister continued: “The Supporting People funding from my Department provides vital accommodation and outreach services and I have had the pleasure of seeing a significant amount of this work first-hand from services to support those with complex needs such as alcohol addiction at the Stella Maris Hostel, the Ruth House refuge for women and children who have experienced domestic violence, to the Utility Street Hostel which specifically provides accommodation for homeless men. The range of services this funding supports is extensive and vital as we work to support the homeless.

“Homelessness is however about much more than rooflessness. Importantly the funding through Supporting People assists many people maintain a tenancy, through floating support services such as that provided by First Housing Support Services.”

The Minister has also made a donation to the Council for the Homeless this year who will distribute the money to organisations supporting homeless people in Northern Ireland in the lead up to Christmas.

The Minister said: “This donation will go some way towards helping those experiencing homelessness and I want to thank the Council for the Homeless for once again distributing this money on my behalf.”

Ricky Rowledge, Chief Executive of Council for the Homeless said: “Every year, the Department for Social Development donation helps make Christmas special for thousands of adults and children unlucky enough to be without a permanent home during the festive period.

“The generosity of the Department is greatly appreciated by the sector and provides a tangible expression of the Minister's compassion and commitment to ending homelessness in Northern Ireland.”

The Minister also has oversight of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Homelessness Strategy 2012-17 which puts prevention of homelessness to the forefront with an enhanced inter-agency approach.

The health and social care needs of those experiencing homelessness was the topic of discussion at an event today organised by the Patient and Client Council and the Council for the Homeless. The Minister, who addressed the event, said that whilst housing has a central role to play, tackling homelessness in all its dimensions will require the collaboration of a wide range of partners from across the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

The Minister said: “Issues such as mental health, alcohol and substance misuse and illness all contribute greatly to whether someone is able to maintain a tenancy and the lifestyle of those experiencing homelessness can make it difficult to access services. Health issues therefore have a massive effect on the homeless. I welcome the discussion taking place and commend all those involved as they work to find solutions to this complex issue.”