News
The Northern Ireland Audit Office's recent report has revealed a stark reality: the demand for temporary accommodation is reaching unsustainable levels, placing immense financial pressure on homelessness services. With the number of households in temporary accommodation skyrocketing from 1,700 in 2017 to approximately 4,700 in 2023-24, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) spent nearly £39 million last year alone. A significant portion of this expenditure went towards hotels and B&Bs, a practice intended for emergency use only, further demonstrating the critical shortage of suitable, permanent social housing.
The report underscores the urgent need to shift focus from costly, reactive measures to proactive homelessness prevention strategies. Currently, only a small fraction of NIHE's budget is allocated to prevention, despite its central role in their homelessness strategy. The lack of affordable social housing is trapping vulnerable families in temporary accommodation, exacerbating the problem and leading to long-term consequences for health, education, and the public purse.
Ark Housing's Commitment to Homelessness Prevention
At Ark Housing, we recognize the urgency of this situation and are committed to playing a vital role in preventing homelessness. Our Homeless Services team provides crucial temporary accommodation to families in need. Since our 2021 restructuring, and with funding from Supporting People, we've launched the Floating Support Service, a dedicated team actively supporting families facing or at risk of homelessness.
Our Floating Support Service focuses on long-term solutions, assisting families in obtaining and sustaining accommodation within the community. We provide comprehensive support, including:
- Securing and maintaining tenancies.
- Finding suitable accommodation.
- Managing finances and maximizing income.
- Accessing benefits and signposting to other essential services.
Since its inception, our Floating Support Service has successfully assisted over 500 families with diverse needs, demonstrating our commitment to empowering individuals and preventing homelessness.
We believe that by focusing on prevention and providing tailored support, we can help families build stable, independent lives.
Gail McLaughlin, Homeless Services Manager says, "The aim of our floating support services is to prevent homelessness whenever possible. Our team provides support to a range of families with diverse needs to enable them stay in their homes in the long term."
"Early intervention in times of housing stress, to maintain and sustain tenancies, is a better method of reducing homelessness than acting after crisis point is reached. We believe addressing homelessness requires a multi approach: managing the immediate crisis with suitable temporary accommodation, investing in long-term preventative measures and . Where temporary accommodation is required, it is imperative those families have adequate support services in place, with that continuum of support in assisting them to settle into their long-term permanent homes"
If you or someone you know requires assistance from our Floating Support Service, please visit Homeless Services - Ark Housing for more information.