In Northern Ireland, the number of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness is continuing to rise. Groups Homewards NI have identified as most in need of support include women experiencing chronic homelessness and young people leaving care.
The numbers of young people in the care system in Northern Ireland are at an increasingly high level, and research shows that people with care experience are more likely to experience homelessness at some point in their lives. At the same time, over 250 women are experiencing chronic homelessness.
These are the initial focus areas for the Homewards NI Action Plan. They will evolve and develop over time, including other groups or to put in place the groundwork needed to prevent homelessness that has been identified or agreed to be a priority, for example, how homelessness impacts rural communities.