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.
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
News
A Visit to the House in the Wells
On Tuesday 11th July Mark Baillie and I visited the House in the Wells in...
A visit to Cloverhill Hostel
On Thursday 6th July, Nicola McCrudden, Mark Baillie and I took a trip to the...
Homeless Connect submission to discretionary support scheme consultation
Homeless Connect has made a submission to the Department for Communities...
Homeless Connect welcomes the launch of Homewards
Homeless Connect welcomes the Launch of Homewards Yesterday, the Prince of...
Homelessness service providers brief APG on Homelessness
In its last meeting before the summer break, the APG on Homelessness heard...
Homeless Connect responds to the Department of Communities Final Budget 2023/4
The Department for Communities has published its final budget allocations for...
Becoming a Community Food Member
What does FareShare NI do? At Fareshare, we re-distribute surplus food to over...
Homeless Connect co-signs joint letter to Department for Communities on budget allocation for 2023/4
Homeless Connect has joined with the Chartered Institute of Housing, Housing...
Homeless Connect expresses grave concern over budget allocation to the Department for Communities
STATEMENT Homeless Connect expresses grave concern over budget allocation to...
Sticks and stones may break my bones…
In my role as Lived Experience Co-ordinator I have had many discussions, both...
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.
