Sign up to a Northern Ireland when everyone has a home

Housing Rights Service (HRS) has been working to improve lives by tackling homelessness and housing problems since 1964. The charity is celebrating 50 years of service by launching a vision of a Northern Ireland where everyone has a home.

Housing Rights Service was established in Belfast in 1964 and works to improve lives by tackling homelessness and housing problems.  The charity operates a daily advice service across Northern Ireland to help people get to grips with their housing problems.  Last year HRS helped people deal with over 40,000 housing problems. That represents an increase of nearly 400% compared to the previous decade.

Gráinne Walsh, Housing Rights Service Chairperson commented: “Our work is just as vital now as it was when we started in 1964.   Whether it’s being able to find suitable housing, getting repairs done, or not being able to afford the mortgage or rent, many people are struggling with housing problems. Demand for our service is at an all time high and we don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon”

 The environment Housing Rights Service operates in is challenging.   In 2012/2013 over 19,000 local households presented as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and over 41,000 people were on the waiting list for social housing.  Levels of repossession here remain high and three quarters of mortgages taken out since 2005 are in negative equity.  

 Ms Walsh continued:” Undoubtedly the nature of the housing problems we deal with have changed in the last 50 years.  What hasn’t changed is how challenging those issues are for the people facing them.  We are asking the public to help us realise our vision by showing their support for a Northern Ireland where everyone has a home. This is not something that will happen overnight but every signature can make a difference. ”

 You can sign up to Housing Rights Service vision at http://bit.ly/1ox72qF

 

Last updated 9 years 9 months ago