Homelessness Awareness Week runs 2^nd –  8^th December 2024 and this week our Floating Support Team have been raising awareness and offering information about support available across the region. Colin Hamilton, Deputy Services Manager, has been in Newry and Bangor speaking to people about how the service supports anyone aged 18+ with housing related support. Floating Support enables people to develop independent living skills to maintain their tenancy and prevent homelessness.

Many Supporting People providers, including our own Floating Support Services, are at the frontline of homelessness prevention. Along with many colleagues in other homeless prevention services, it is startling to think there are currently approximately 48,000 households on the Housing Waiting List and of these, almost 37,000 are in ‘housing stress’. The figure for those who have met the four Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) criteria (Full Duty Applicant Status) and are classified as homeless, is just over 27,000, out of the 48,000 households.

Trevor Taylor, Floating Support Services Manager, said:

"Accounting for the figures outlined, one can see the immense task, homeless prevention services, including our own Regional Disability, and two Elderly (55+) Floating Services have in working to support people to sustain their tenancy, as well as working with those who are ‘homeless’.  The general view of homelessness is stereotypical of the ‘rough sleeper.’ This is not the case, as unsuitable accommodation is one of the homelessness categories defined by the NIHE and is the largest grouping who are classified as being homeless. Many of our service users reside in accommodation, which is unsuitable in meeting their housing needs for a variety of factors."

Angela McCutcheon, Deputy Services Manager for Belfast and South Eastern Floating Support Schemes added:

"We are seeing an increase in more complex cases over the past number of years than we had a decade ago."

Our Floating Support Services support service user’s to sustain their tenancy, and assist those who are homeless to obtain suitable accommodation.

As an overview of Cedar’s participation in combating homelessness, in 2023-24, out of 426 people who left Cedar Floating Support Services, 86% sustained their tenancies, and at the 31^{st of} March 2024, 264 people were in receipt of Floating Support. From 1^st April to 28^th November 2024, 263 service users have left Floating Support Services and 85% have successfully sustained their tenancies to date. Currently, 267 people are in receipt of our Floating Support Services, with 108 people on the waiting list.

For more information on our floating support services please visit our dedicated page.