Our CEO Nicola McCrudden recently gave evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry as part of Module 10, which examines the pandemic’s impact on people experiencing homelessness. The following blog, summarises the key themes from her witness statement – looking at how Northern Ireland’s homelessness sector navigated those two years of immense pressure, from the scramble to house rough sleepers and the strain on temporary accommodation, to the staffing crisis and the collaborative working that emerged from necessity. Five years on, Nicola reflects on what was learned, what has been lost, and why those lessons must not be forgotten.
Impact on Homelessness
The pandemic’s effect on homelessness was far from straightforward. In the initial months, presentations actually fell, partly due to eviction restrictions introduced by the Department for Communities in April 2020 – a clear example of how swift policy intervention can shape housing outcomes. However, as those protections were lifted, presentations rose, driven by the advent of the cost of living crisis and the strains lockdown placed on household relationships.
Perhaps the most serious consequences were felt by the most vulnerable. Those with substance dependencies or mental health difficulties, who were placed in hotels or B&Bs due to supply shortages, often found themselves isolated. Families in temporary accommodation faced major pressures, managing childcare and homeschooling in cramped settings as communal spaces remained closed.
Staff in the homelessness sector faced huge challenges throughout the pandemic. Homelessness sector workers had no option but to remain on-site, often in reduced teams, managing shifts, lone working, and crisis situations that sometimes required setting aside infection control guidance to save lives. The mental health toll was significant, and recruitment and retention – already a challenge before the pandemic – worsened considerably. Despite all the challenges faced, the pandemic illustrated the very best of homelessness sector staff here who rose to the occasion.
Temporary Accommodation
Social distancing requirements created immediate pressure on temporary accommodation. Services with shared rooms or bathrooms were forced to significantly reduce bed spaces, pushing the Housing Executive to rely heavily on private lets, hotels, and B&Bs. This approach, though unavoidable given constrained supply, left many vulnerable individuals without adequate support structures.
The ‘Everyone In’ initiative to accommodate all rough sleepers was largely successful and almost certainly prevented outbreaks among a group already more susceptible to respiratory illness. However, some individuals with complex needs ended up in hotels rather than supported accommodation – a legitimate concern that Nicola acknowledged was partly inevitable but must be planned for more carefully in future.
Access to PPE was also problematic in the early stages, with inconsistencies across NHS Trust areas and guidance that failed to account for the specific context of homelessness services. Homelessness workers were not initially included in vaccine priority groups, requiring active advocacy from Homeless Connect and other sector organisations to secure their inclusion.
What Worked
Despite these difficulties, the pandemic produced some genuinely positive outcomes. The most significant was the development of stronger, more collaborative relationships between the homelessness sector and statutory partners, including the Housing Executive, the Public Health Agency, and government departments. Long-standing bureaucratic barriers melted away with a speed not seen previously.
The Homelessness Sector Operational Group (HSOG), chaired by Nicola, served as a vital coordination forum throughout, helping manage rapidly changing guidance and facilitating information-sharing across organisations. The Housing Executive’s Covid-19 Reset Plan, developed with Homeless Connect’s input, provided strategic direction and showed that lessons were being captured in real time.
In her statement, Nicola outlined her concern that many of these collaborative practices have since faded. The pandemic demonstrated what is possible when the sector and statutory bodies work together – and that opportunity should not be wasted.
