This afternoon, the All-Party Group on Homelessness met at the Northern Ireland Assembly. The group was briefed by officials from the Departments of Communities, Education and Justice on the Year 5 Interdepartmental Homelessness Action Plan (IDHAP).
The IDHAP is one of the key mechanisms through which Executive Departments seek to work collaboratively to address homelessness here. The Department for Communities leads on the IDHAP but it also involves the Departments of Health, Justice and Education.
The first IDHAP was published in 2017. In 2025, the fifth version of the IDHAP was published.
Here are some key takeaways from what we heard today:
1. There are good examples of cross-departmental working when it comes to homelessness- but there is further to travel
During the session, Maria Watson, Director of Rehabilitation and Reducing Offending in the Department of Justice, and David Polley, Director of Housing Supply Policy at the Department for Communities, outlined a number of areas where cross-departmental working has made a positive difference. Some of the examples cited included the Complex Lives Project in Belfast and a pilot project in Maghaberry prison involving Housing Executive advisors providing housing advice to individuals who will soon be leaving prison.
Mr Polley indicated that the difference between the first IDHAP and the latest iteration is like comparing ‘night and day’ and he credited the work of stakeholders including the homelessness sector for pushing for greater collaboration between departments. However, the officials did accept that more needs to be done in this space to drive forward positive collaboration to prevent and reduce homelessness.
2. Homelessness and the Criminal Justice System
Maria Watson noted that the Department of Justice view the IDHAP as being of real importance due to the impact homelessness has on the criminal justice system. She noted that a lack of housing for individuals leaving prison is a massive issue which can impact on reoffending levels.
Ms Watson starkly noted that the prison population in NI has reached its highest level since 1985. The cost per person of a prison place is around £55,000 a year. Ms Watson highlighted that these statistics are illustrative of the need to prevent offending in the first place as well as ensuring appropriate supports are in place for individuals who are leaving custody.
Her contribution was illustrative of the fact that, as David Polley noted in his remarks, homelessness is not just a housing issue. It reaches far beyond to touch on issues like criminal justice, education and health which is why we need effective collaboration. With the pressures on the housing and homelessness systems as they are, strong collaboration and a willingness to innovate will be crucial.
3. Homelessness and Education
Dougie Cusin, Acting Head of Tackling Educational Disadvantage Team at the Department of Education, outlined some of the impacts homelessness can have on school children in terms of their wellbeing and development.
He touched on a range of activities CCEA are taking to raise awareness of homelessness and its impacts amongst children and young people at school. This included a teacher support event held in May as which Mr Cusin described as a ‘key milestone’ with 150 teachers taking part. The event was an opportunity to highlight CCEA resources and to raise awareness of homelessness and its impacts.
The next meeting of the APG on Homelessness will take place in December.
