Charities team up for new initiative to tackle Northern Ireland’s growing homelessness

A community group based in East Belfast is taking a new approach to help address the growing problem of homelessness in Northern Ireland.

East Belfast Mission (EBM) has partnered with social justice charity Commonweal Housing for a new pilot project, known as ‘You’re Home’.

Commonweal is purchasing five properties in East Belfast, which will be rented to people currently living in EBM’s homeless hostel who can’t find or afford anywhere else to live.

Read more:Belfast boy asks for donations to local hostel instead of birthday presents

EBM will offer long and short-term tenancy agreements with subsidised rents to ensure that ‘You’re Home’ provides long-term affordable housing.

Tenants will also be able to avail of wrap-around support services if required to help with issues such as finding a job or budgeting.

The leading community organisation has been running its dedicated homelessness service for over 20 years and Hosford Community homes is a new project that plans to provide 30 homes in total over the next three years.

EBM says it's experiencing unprecedented demands for its homelessness services and its existing hostel space in the east of the city.

By providing new homes with Commonweal, the aim is to free up hostel space for those in desperate need of shelter and support, whilst helping those who have been living long-term in the hostel to find a proper home.

Tom Dinnen, EBM Capacity Building Coordinator, said: “Year on year the problem of homelessness gets worse and demand for our services is at an all-time high – in the past year we received 1,000 enquiries for our 26 hostel spaces.

“People fall into homelessness for all types of reasons – it could be unemployment, illness, bereavement, addictions or a refugee trying to build a new life for themselves and their family.

“As a society we just haven’t built enough affordable housing and with the cost of living crisis, soaring rents and over-stretched public services, more and more people are falling into the homelessness trap.

“By intervening with Commonweal to directly provide affordable housing, we can give people the opportunity to have not just a house but a home in the community and a sense of belonging.”

The first property purchased in conjunction with Commonweal has already been let and the new tenant said: “I was really grateful for a roof over my head at EBM’s hostel, but a hostel, no matter how good, is no substitute for a place of your own.

“I spent months trying to find an alternative, but for someone in my circumstances there was just nothing available.

“I am truly amazed and blessed now that I have moved into my new home and this opportunity to start afresh. I’m also really pleased that my hostel space will be freed-up for someone else in need.”

Ashley Horsey, Commonweal Housing’s Chief Executive, added: “We know the significant value that having access to a decent and affordable home can bring to vulnerable people.

“Too many find themselves in the yo-yo of homelessness and temporary accommodation and we hope that ‘You’re Home’ provides a blueprint for Belfast, offering longer term, stable housing that will make a difference to our tenants’ lives.

“We are proud to be a part of this important and innovative project as we mark our first venture outside of England.”

In the past 20 years, EBM’s Hosford Services has helped thousands of people who have been homeless or at risk of being homeless.

In July, Prince William visited the east Belfast charity to learn more about its approach as part of the UK launch of ‘Homeward’, a new Royal Foundation campaign to end homelessness.

Much of EBM’s work is focused on providing support services to prevent homelessness by providing life skills, financial support, a sense of community and belonging as well as direct housing provision.

Across Northern Ireland the number of households seeking temporary accommodation has more than tripled to over 10,000 in the past five years.

The number of households on the NI Housing Executive’s waiting list is currently 45,292, a 73% increase since 2003.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.