We exist to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Northern Ireland
We have been tackling homelessness since 1983.
Homeless Connect is a membership body for organisations working with people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Whether it’s through challenging policy or offering practical support, everything we do is driven by desire to see an end to homelessness. We support individuals, families and organisations – connecting people and services.
We work collaboratively to create a community of support, give a voice to the sector and deliver direct assistance to those in need.
What we do
Connecting Services
Our members provide a range of services, from supported temporary accommodation to floating support in the community, from street outreach to drop-in day centres. We connect members with each other and with statutory providers to better co-ordinate services for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Connecting People
To truly meet the needs of service users, we need to ensure that the voices of people with lived experiences are heard and listened to. Our ambition is to promote best practice through connecting the right people, including frontline staff, so that we learn, develop and improve together. In doing so, we can co-design better services that will make a real difference to people’s lives.
Membership
Homeless Connect’s membership is made up of a wide range of organisations working in the homelessness sector on the journey to end homelessness.
What brings us together is our commitment to ending homelessness.
Influencing Policy
We provide a voice for the sector and actively engage our members in informing policy, legislation, and practice. This includes articulating the existing and future needs of people who are homeless and informing and influencing the development and implementation of strategy.
Our Projects
FareShare NI
FareShare NI is our regional food sharing project that aims to help people in food poverty by distributing surplus food, donated by the food industry. The food we redistribute is nutritious and good to eat. It reaches charities and community projects across the Northern Ireland including hostels, school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, and community cafes.
Home Starter Pack
Home Starter Packs help to ensure a good start, or restart, after some time without a permanent home. By providing packs of essential household goods to those moving into a new tenancy, we can go some way to making a house feel like a home, and help people keep their tenancy going – helping people on their journey.
Lived Experience
At Homeless Connect we believe in the importance of including people with lived experience of homelessness in shaping strategy and bringing about positive change to services. People with lived experience of homelessness have unique insights into what works to prevent and reduce homelessness. We want to make sure that voice is heard.
Northern Ireland Frontline Network
Homeless Connect is partnering with the Frontline Network to deliver the Northern Ireland Frontline Network. The network is aimed at people working or volunteering on the frontline of the homelessness sector, so that their views are heard and they are supported to deal with the challenges that they are facing.
Events
We support staff and volunteers through training, practical workshops, networking and shared learning opportunities.
News
Homeless Connect welcomes temporary accommodation announcement
Department for Communities Temporary Accommodation Announcement This morning,...
Time to rebalance spending
The NI Audit Office Report On Tuesday 25 March, the NI Audit Office published...
Draft Budget Consultation 2025/6
The Consultation Homeless Connect has made its submission to the Department of...
Homeless Connect Response to the Programme for Government
The Programme for Government On Monday 3 March 2025, the Executive Office...
Latest housing statistics show homelessness numbers continuing to spiral upwards
Press Release Latest housing statistics show homelessness numbers continuing...
Health Inclusion Nurses at the APG on Homelessness
Health Inclusion Nurses This afternoon the APG on Homelessness held its latest...
Submission on the Justice Bill
Justice Committee Call for Evidence Homeless Connect has made a submission to...
Submission on the People’s Housing Bill
The Consultation In late 2024, Gerry Carroll MLA launched a consultation on a...
Submission on the Vagrancy Acts
The Consultation Homeless Connect has submitted our response to the Department...
Homeless Connect responds to Communities Minister Intimidation Points Announcement
This morning at the Assembly the Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons MLA...
Can you help us bring about change?
We want to work with people who care about those experiencing homelessness. If you think you could give of your time to help we have a wide range of opportunities.
