We exist to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Northern Ireland
Since 1983 we have been tackling homelessness as a membership body for organisations working with people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of becoming homeless.
Whether it’s 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 do this by working collaboratively to create a community of support, by being the voice of the sector and by delivering 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 are essential in helping 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.
RSUN
At Regional Service Users Network (RSUN) we don’t believe policy and treatment for substance use should be decided by people who don’t have a lived experience of using substances. We influence and shape policy, we engage groups and services, offer peer support, education, training and development. We are the empowering voice of people who use substances.
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
News
Latest Housing Statistics Published by the Department for Communities
This morning the Department of Communities published the latest edition of its...
First Housing Aid and Support Services Celebrates 20 Years of Making a Difference for Young Parents in the Northwest
On Friday 11th November, the Mayor of Derry and Strabane Council Sandra Duffy...
APG on Homelessness hears from Communities Officials
This afternoon at the Assembly the All Party Group on Homelessness held its...
Staffing Challenges Within the NI Homeless Sector – Report Launch
A report released on Tuesday 27th September 2022 explores staffing issues in...
Latest Homelessness Statistics published for NI
This morning the Department for Communities published the latest edition of...
APG on Homelessness Visits Frontline Services
On 5 September 2022 a group of MLAs focused on homelessness policy and...
A visit to Centenary House
On 27 July 2022 Nicola, Mark and I visited Centenary House and Calder Fountain...
UTV Live Special, 9th August 2022
Homeless Connect CEO, Nicola McCrudden, was invited onto UTV Live on 9 August...
Call for greater resources to tackle drug-related deaths on Belfast streets
Groups, including the Regional Service User Network, Extern, Homeless Connect...
A Visit to Northwest Methodist Mission
On Wednesday 19 July, Nicola McCrudden and I took a trip to the northwest to...
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.
