This Homelessness Awareness Week, we’re asking the public to look beyond the statistics and #SeeThePerson behind every story. #HAW25 #SeeThePerson

📅1 December marks the start of Homelessness Awareness Week 2025 At Housing Rights, we strengthen the safety nets to keep people in their homes through our advocacy and casework teams, legal team, and Beyond the Gate project. #SeeThePerson

Homelessness Awareness Week is only a few days away! Make sure to have a look at our programme outlining all the events taking place during the week: homelessconnect.org/events/ #HAW25 #SeeThePerson

A staggering 4,730 children in Northern Ireland are living in temporary accommodation - a 121% rise since 2019. Childhood homelessness harms health, wellbeing, and education. Please #SeeThePerson and support efforts to help children and families facing homelessness. #HAW25

Homelessness is more than numbers or labels. This Homelessness Awareness Week (1–7 Dec), let’s #SeeThePerson behind every statistic - real people with hopes, challenges, and potential.

Homeless Connect in person course on 18 November, (Belfast) is 'Effective Conversations to Reduce Alcohol and Drug Related harm'. This course will increase staff confidence in managing alcohol and/or drug related situations safely. Fee:£135 (member); £165 (non-member) Book today bit.ly/47m4c4V

In CT Brief, Nicola McCrudden, CEO of Homeless Connect, explores what’s driving Northern Ireland’s homelessness crisis – and how prevention and collaboration can build a better system. Read here: www.campbelltickell.com/ctbrief/issu...

On 25 Sept, join our free webinar to learn how your charity, school, or community group can access surplus food through FareShare. Support your services, cut costs, and help feed vulnerable people across NI. Register here 👉 homelessconnect.org/event/feedin...

Urgent need for additional funding for social housing provision as NI homelessness numbers continue to spiral upwards - viewdigital.org/urgent-need-...

The housing crisis in NI is worsening, with over 32,000 households now facing homelessness, up 136% in the last decade. Without urgent funding for social housing, more families will be left behind. Full statement from Homeless Connect: bit.ly/41iUnm9

🚨 The NI Homelessness Conference 2025 tackles some of the biggest issues facing our sector: ⚕️Overdose Prevention Facilities 🏡Housing allocations reform 🧔‍♀️Violence against women & girls 📦Migration & homelessness in Europe Book tickets @HomelessConnect 9 Oct | Belfast | homelessconnect.org

Fantastic and often ground breaking work. Thank you Depaul staff both past and present 👏

Our Head of Policy and Programmes @markbaillie89.bsky.social took a visit to the Crossfire Trust this afternoon. It was fantastic to meet the team and hear about the compassionate support they provide in Darkley in Armagh. You can find out more about the Trust here- www.crossfiretrust.net

Homeless Connect is made up of over forty member organisations across NI. These organisations are of different shapes and sizes but are all united by the same goal- ending homelessness here. Join us on the journey to end homelessness. homelessconnect.org/membership/

We have submitted our response to Ciara Ferugson MLA's consultation on unfair letting agent fees. You can read what we had to say here- homelessconnect.org/unfair-letti...

Last week the Housing Executive published the latest 'Performance of the Rental Market in NI' report produced by Ulster University. The report contains a wide range of insights into the increasing affordability challenges facing many renters in NI 1/4 🧵 www.nihe.gov.uk/search/redir...

Last week the NI Frontline Network held a networking event for floating support staff working in greater Belfast. We had participants at different stages of their career coming together to share their experiences and learn more about how they can best support folks they are working to support.

NI Audit Office report on #homelessness is very helpful with startling facts that might come as a surprise to some. Reducing hotel/B&B use is a must for obvious reasons and rebalancing budgets to focus on prevention and co-ordinated support is the way forward, along with social housing building.

Our Head of Policy and Programmes @markbaillie89.bsky.social was on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme this morning responding to the @niauditoffice.bsky.social report on homelessness in NI. You can listen to the full interview here- www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... starting at 1:36:40

Our CEO @nicolamccrudden.bsky.social is quoted today on @irishtimes.com and on BBC News NI responding to the publication of the @niauditoffice.bsky.social report on homelessness in NI. See links below: BBC News NI: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/.../norths-h...

Our Head of Policy @markbaillie89.bsky.social was in the @belfasttelegraph.co.uk yesterday commenting on the budgetary constraints facing the Department for Communities in 2025/6 when it comes to building new social homes www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...

Our Head of Policy @markbaillie89.bsky.social is in a piece by @grainnecuffe.bsky.social in @insidehousing.bsky.social commenting on the need for investment in #socialhousing to meet the target set out in the programme for government #homelessness www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing...

Yesterday the NI Executive published its Programme for Government up to May 2027. You can read our response to what it includes on our website: homelessconnect.org/homeless-con...

Our CEO @nicolamccrudden.bsky.social in @belfastlive.co.uk warning about the impact of the coming rise in employer national insurance contributions on the homelessness sector here #homelessness #nics #vcs

This afternoon #apghomelessness met at the Assembly. The group heard from three Health Inclusion nurses working for the Belfast, South-Eastern and Western Trust on their work supporting people experiencing homelessness. You can read a write up of the meeting here homelessconnect.org/health-inclu...

Really positive response from participants to the Northern Ireland Frontline Network's accredited training sessions on substance use in a homeless setting. Thanks to @ascertni.bsky.social for leading the sessions!

Housing in Northern Ireland: is housebuilding at a sixty-year low? Yes, according to evidence. According to the ONS, the total number of new homes finished in 2023 was 5,380 – the lowest number of completions since 1959, when the figure was 4,890.

Homeless Connect has made a submission to the Justice Committee's Call for Evidence on the Justice Bill. Our submission focuses on the proposed repeal of the Vagrancy Acts criminalising rough sleeping and begging in NI homelessconnect.org/submission-o...

Yesterday during Communities questions, Minister Lyons MLA outlined the latest projected spending on temporary accommodation provision outside of the Supporting People programme for 24/5 to be £35.4 million. This is a rise of 181% since 19/20.

Our CEO @nicolamccrudden.bsky.social is in today's @belfasttelegraph.co.uk commenting on the news that over £45,000 a day is being spent on provision of non-standard hotel and B&B accommodation due to the level of need in the homelessness system www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/nor...

Latest stats published in response to an AQ from @kelmba.bsky.social show that the number of people with homelessness status in NI continues to rise. Over the last year, the number of people with homelessness status on the social housing waiting list increased by 5043 to reach 59375 (up 9%).

This morning at the Assembly the Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons MLA made a statement announcing the removal of intimidation points from the Social Housing Selection Scheme. You can read our response on our website: homelessconnect.org/homeless-con...

The removal of intimidation points for housing allocation is about to happen. It's shocking that people continue to be intimidated from their homes. It's most likely that the impact of violence will be taken into account under 'primary social need' factors but will need proper consideration.

Homeless Connect has made its submission to the Department of Justice's Consultation on the repeal of the Vagrancy Acts. You can read the key points made in the submission and the full response on our website homelessconnect.org/submission-o...

On Wednesday 29 January, the Northern Ireland Frontline Network is running a free, full-day online workshop focused on Emotional Intelligence and Resilience for frontline staff in the homelessness sector. For full information and how to book see homelessconnect.org/event/emotio...

We are looking for a Practice & Participation Manager to come and join our team at Homeless Connect. You can find full details on our website here- homelessconnect.org/job/practice...

An absolute hoot, Christmas party so much laughter and fun. After such a busy year - especially the past few wks we were ready for it. Drivers still delivering home starter packs, food and presents able to stop for a bit 🎁 🥳 Best team ever! @homelessconnect.bsky.social @fareshareni.bsky.social

It should shock us that over 5,300 children are spending Christmas in temp accommodation in NI. Homelessness services will do their best to make this a happy time and ensure that no one goes without. However understandably what families want is a home of their own. www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

Our CEO @nicolamccrudden.bsky.social responds to the latest homelessness statistics published by the Department for Communities this morning homelessconnect.org/over-5300-ch...

This morning, on the second day of #HAW24, @markbaillie89.bsky.social our Head of Policy & Programmes spoke to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster following the Minister's statement yesterday regarding extra funding to prevent the closure of vital homelessness services. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Our CEO, Nicola McCrudden, featured in the @irishnews.com today announcing the start of this year's Homelessness Awareness Week 2024 and the urgency for action regarding housing and homelessness in Northern Ireland. Read more here: www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

The ’Time for Change: Responding to Homelessness’ event, brought together frontline staff from various Homeless Connect member organisations, as well as statutory services to recognise their efforts to assist those experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness Awareness Week is only a few days away! Make sure to have a look at our programme outlining all the events taking place during the week. homelessconnect.org/wp-content/u... #HAW24 #TimeforChange

Homeless Connect has joined Blue Sky! Do give us a follow if you are interested in responding to homelessness here in Northern Ireland