Margaret Ritchie to tackle homelessness in Northern Ireland

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today launched a new strategy which aims to dramatically reduce the number of homeless people in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the Strategy in the offices of the Council for the Homeless in North Street, Belfast, the Minister said:

“The number of households, found to be homeless, after investigation by the Housing Executive in 2006/07, was almost ten thousand. Behind these stark figures are real stories of distress and anguish.

“Not having a home is one of the worst things that can happen to people and unfortunately homelessness in Northern Ireland is increasing. My aim in publishing this strategy is to ensure that Government departments, agencies and voluntary sector bodies are working together effectively to tackle the problem. I want to ensure first, that there is accessible, effective, and safe housing provision and, second, that people can progress to independent living, supported and encouraged wherever possible. Public authorities need to work together to ensure this – and that’s what this strategy is about.

“A recent development is the number of migrant workers who find themselves, often through no fault of their own, literally living on the street. This should not be happening in the 21st century.

“Much good work has already been done, for example, by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive which was one of the first housing bodies to introduce a Homelessness Strategy. But given the increasing numbers, we need to do much more. I want everyone in Northern Ireland to have access to the housing and services to which they are entitled and to have an opportunity to play their part in our society. I want to see a society in Northern Ireland that does not exclude anyone. I believe that this strategy has a key role to play in this. I am confident that by working together, we can make a real difference.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Promoting social inclusion (PSI) is an important element of the wider Lifetime Opportunities – the government's anti-poverty and social inclusion strategy for Northern Ireland. Lifetime Opportunities adopts a life cycle approach with targets and goals specifically aimed at key stages in people's lives. It also retains the key principles of the New Targeting Social Need policy i.e. to target resources and effort within programmes at those areas, groups and individuals in greatest objective need.
2. In the context of PSI, the Department for Social Development established a cross-departmental, cross-sectoral Working Group to promote the social inclusion of homeless people in 2004. The Working Group published a draft report in November 2004 for consultation.
3. The strategy document Including the Homeless is based on the outcome of the consultation exercise and subsequent discussions with government departments and other relevant bodies.
4. More information can be found on the DSDNI website .
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