One Web Day Case Study: Housing Rights Service

Housing Rights Service’s use of the internet

Established in 1964, Housing Rights Service has been working for 40 years on behalf of people in Northern Ireland who are homeless or in housing need.

Housing Rights Service works to promote the rights of people who are in housing need in Northern Ireland through the provision of high quality independent specialist services and by influencing policy to achieve decent, safe and affordable housing for all.

housingadviceNI

www.housingadviceNI.org is a website providing free, reliable and practical information to the public on housing and homelessness issues. The site provides online advice and is backed by a free phone telephone helpline. It has been produced by Housing Rights Service in partnership with Shelter and is funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Vodafone.

The site promotes access to housing advice in Northern Ireland, particularly amongst those who do not traditionally use advice services, including young people and people living in rural communities. By providing practical information, and appropriate signposting where necessary, the site aims to prevent homelessness and address issues of housing need by helping people to find answers to their housing problems at an early stage.

The website has lead to many clients being better informed about their rights when contacting Housing Rights Service for further help. In addition, it can also empower clients and allow them to solve their problems themselves.

The internet revolution has enabled this specialist housing advice charity to reach more people than ever – both geographically and in terms of the people helped. The site is supported by a telephone helpline and also offers advice by email to ensure that clients have access to support if necessary.

email advice

Housing Rights Service views email advice as an integral part of the housingadviceNI.org project. The project aims to make it as easy as possible for users to find the information they need, when they need it. Email advice is an invaluable mechanism for users who lack the confidence to tackle their housing problem themselves but who can’t or won’t access a traditional advice service.

distance learning

Distance learning is currently being piloted by Housing Right Service as part of the Housing Advice Training Program during Autumn 2006. The distance learning software makes it easier for participants to keep up to date with the six week training course by providing course materials online, allowing participants to complete assignments online and also providing forums and chatrooms for participants to discuss the course.

The initiative was introduced following consultation with members who were keen to sample the benefits of distance learning while ensuring that the all important face to face element of the course was not replaced entirely.

Housing Rights Service is at the leading edge of ICT usage in service provision among the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. This long established organisation has grasped the potential benefits of effective use of ICT and is reaping the benefits.