Launch of Research Report by Council for the Homeless NI - 26 November 2008

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.  

Thank you for your warm words of welcome.

I’m very happy to join you here this morning for the launch of this report, which my Department was pleased to part fund.  

DSD has a lead role in tackling homelessness and, as Minister for Social Development, I’m well aware of the many risks of this damaging experience, in terms of well-being and difficulty accessing services.  

The idea of a young person facing this ordeal is particularly biting.  The idea of almost 1000 young people facing homelessness on a yearly basis in Northern Ireland is nothing short of shocking.

I’m conscious too, of the fall out of fast moving developments in the housing and economic markets – guarding against homelessness and its effects is clearly of the utmost relevance in today’s difficult financial climate.  

You have already heard from your patron Sidney McDowell and Ricky Rowledge, about the background to this very important research and why it was commissioned.  The research rightly recognises the need for a better understanding of the needs of homeless young people.  

Too often young people’s voices are not heard when we are planning.  This research offers a unique opportunity to listen to their voices “Telling it like it is” – and I intend to.  The final report will help to shape our future policy and service delivery around homelessness in DSD.  

Homelessness for young people is more than just a housing issue.

An experience of homelessness can, not surprising, have a huge impact on a young person’s well-being and life chances – their educational attainment, their employment prospects and their ability to participate in their community.  

Sadly, a common factor leading to homelessness in young people is family disputes.  This, together with young people reporting a range of complex or specialist needs, can make it difficult for young homeless people to access the services that could otherwise help them.  Their connections to the wider world breakdown – connections that the rest of us take for granted.    

In my Department, and in others dealing with the causes and effects of homelessness, we need to seriously reflect on this report and re-focus our services and policies to meet the specific needs of these vulnerable young people.  

My thanks go to the Youth Unit of the Council for the Homeless, Northern Ireland for carrying out their 15-month study, consulting directly with young people and with service providers to provide us with a detailed and valuable report.  

You’ve already heard a presentation from CHNI on the key findings of the report, so I won’t rehearse all of them.  But I will comment that I see in them various opportunities to improve our service.  We may not be able to tackle all the causes of homelessness (family disputes, for example), but we certainly can do something regarding:

I believe that the strategy I launched last year for promoting the social inclusion of homeless people provides a sound basis for tackling many of the problems identified here today and taking forward the recommendations.

The strategy aims to ensure that people who lose their accommodation can continue to access the services to which they are entitled.  I am relying on a range of different partners and service providers to ensure that the strategy’s action plan is implemented.  

All the key players, including Ricky, are represented on a steering group led by my Department.  Through this group I hope to ensure that public bodies and voluntary groups continue to strengthen existing partnerships – helping, young homeless people to access the services that can help them and, ultimately, to achieve independence.

My Supporting People policy and funding framework also offers different housing options and services that respond to the individual needs of vulnerable people, including young homeless people.  I have secured £183 million to support this vital service over the next three years.  

Ladies and gentlemen, I commend this report to all of you and give you my commitment to reflecting on the findings and recommendations and taking meaningful action.  

I and my departmental officials will continue to work hard to ensure that the Department fulfils its mission of protecting the vulnerable at this difficult time.

Thank you.