Who are we?

Housing Rights Service is an independent organisation working to promote the rights of people who are homeless or in housing need in Northern Ireland.

Our main aims are:

• To ensure people are not disadvantaged by lack of awareness of their housing rights by providing a comprehensive advice, advocacy and representation service.
• To assist frontline agencies in meeting the housing advice needs of their local communities through the provision of training, information and support services.
• To positively influence the direction of housing legislation, policy and practice by acting as an effective channel of communication between users and decision makers.

What we do

We provide:

• Advice
• Representation
• Information
• Training

We help individuals and families throughout Northern Ireland to find solutions to problems associated with:

• Preventing homelessness
• Finding accommodation
• Paying for accommodation
• Poor housing conditions
• Possession prevention

Contact Information:

Housing Rights Service
4th Floor Middleton Buildings
10 - 12 High Street
Belfast BT1 2BA

www.housingrights.org.uk

Our business hours are, Monday-Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
Our advice line opening hours are, Monday-Friday 9.30am-1.30pm
Our premises are fully accessible
We have access to Language Line, a telephone translation service

First Housing Aid and Support Services was founded in 1989, with the belief that everyone has a right to a decent, safe and affordable home. The organisation expanded its services throughout the 1990s and now currently employs more than 125 staff throughout Derry, Belfast, Limavady, Omagh and Enniskillen, providing services such:

• A Housing Rights Service open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.00pm in Derry
• Supported accommodation for families in Derry and Belfast
• Supported accommodation for homeless singles in Derry, Omagh and Limavady
• A resettlement / floating support service in Derry, Limavady, Omagh and Enniskillen, including support for individuals with mental health issues
• An underage drinkers forum
• A front shop letting service for private sector housing, offering landlords and tenants a free advice and independent management service in Derry and Belfast
• A crèche facility at our young parents project in Derry

First Housing Aid and Support Services can be contacted at:

28a Bishop Street
Derry
BT48 6PP
Tel: (028) 7126 6115
Fax: 028 7126 3240
Email: info@first-housing.com
Website: www.first-housing.com

 

Council for the Homeless NI was founded in 1983 to support and represent organisations that work with homeless people through Northern Ireland. We achieve this through providing training, information, research, collective representation, communication networks and technical support.

CHNI is the sole regional agency of its type in Northern Ireland and currently membership comprises organisations from the voluntary, community, statutory and private sectors. Our members between them offer some 1600 accommodation places along with a full range of appropriate, quality services to homeless people throughout Northern Ireland.

Contact:

North Street
Belfast
BT1 1LD
Tel: 028 9024 6440
Fax 028 9024 1266
Email: info@chni.org.uk
Website: www.chni.org.uk

 

Simon Community Northern Ireland believes that everyone has a fundamental right to a home. We actively respond to the need of homeless people through initiatives aimed at prevention, provision and progression to independent living.

The organisation has 319 bed spaces across 20 sites throughout NI and provides a comprehensive service to homeless people including direct access hostels, leaving care services and community support services. We provide services for both single and young people.

In 2005-06 we responded to 3,483 requests for housing and support, met the accommodation and support needs of 1,191 individuals and families, employed over 230 members of staff.

Simon Community N.I. run a number of vocational programmes including “Engage” an initiative funded by Equal which aims to deliver employment and training opportunities to homeless and disadvantaged young people. Simon Community also run a programme “ the Forum Theatre” based in the Belfast Foyer, which aims to develop young people through the use of drama.

The Education Unit aims to stop young people becoming and presenting as homeless through the development of our education work for post primary young people. The Peer Education Group, Outspoken, based in Belfast and Coleraine supports our education work by raising awareness of homeless issues and changing perceptions about homelessness.

The organisation continues to influence government and policy makers and political representatives on a range of issues by pursuing a robust Public Affairs Strategy through Addressing Homelessness Campaign.

Contact details:

Simon Community NI
57 Fitzroy Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1HT
02890232882

Email: info@simoncommunity.org
Website: www.simoncommunity.org

 

 

YASP is a voluntary organisation working in partnership with FHASS, FHSST and NIHE helping 16-17 year olds find the best possible solution to their housing problems. They provide a free confidential service offering advice, advocacy, representation and mediation if required. Support is provided on a one-to-one basis tailored to the needs of the individual. Their aim is to support the young person and enable them to live independently, while encouraging links with their family and the wider community.

Contact:
YASP!
15 The Diamond
Derry
Tel: 028 7137 1849

 

 

Outspoken is the Simon Community’s Peer Education Group which supports the Simon’s education work by raising awareness of homeless issues and changing perceptions about homelessness. Through fun, interactive workshops, led by people with personal experiences of homelessness, the ‘Outspoken’ group seeks to provide life lessons on surviving on your own.


The peer educators are all volunteers recruited from amongst residents and former residents of the Simon Community. Since they have experienced at first hand the trials of homelessness, they are able to speak with authority of the difficulties presented by the homeless lifestyle and the skills needed to avoid it. They have all been trained to use their skills and talents to provoke thought, nurture independence and challenge stereotypes.

Contact details:

Simon Community NI
57 Fitzroy Avenue
Belfast
BT7 1HT
02890232882

Email: info@simoncommunity.org
Website: www.simoncommunity.org