Homeless Connect

Homeless Connect, the membership body for homelessness charities in Northern Ireland and Housing Rights, Northern Ireland’s leading housing advice charity which provides independent specialist advice, advocacy and support, have been awarded a grant from the Homewards Fund.

The grant will enable a partnership between Homeless Connect, Housing Rights and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to create a new Homelessness Lived Experience Programme in Northern Ireland. Its aim is to meaningfully engage with people who have experienced homelessness to influence NIHE homelessness policy and service delivery.

The programme will implement a structured approach to involving experts by experience in the Housing Executive’s current Homelessness Strategy and will play a key role in shaping the development and supporting the delivery of the next Strategy, covering April 2027 to March 2032. The programme will also facilitate lived experience participation in the delivery of the Homewards Northern Ireland action plan.

The programme will recruit up to 30 participants from three main groups: adults with lived experience of homelessness or at risk of homelessness, women experiencing chronic homelessness, and young people leaving care. Participants will be supported through individual relationships with staff, peer connections, workshops, and formal training to engage with and influence NIHE homelessness strategies, policies and practices, ensuring their perspectives lead to improved homelessness solutions.