Action Against Homelessness: Simon Community’s Strategic Plan Launch

By Jim Dennison, Chief Executive, Simon Community

1^st March 2024

Often, when we talk about homelessness, we reduce individuals to mere statistics:

• We talk about ‘households’ – individuals and families who can’t get an affordable home;
• We talk about homelessness ‘presenters’ – people reaching out for help;
• We talk about ‘the homeless’ – people who have nowhere safe, secure and affordable to live to live;
• We talk about ‘units’ – homes;
• We talk about ‘migrants’ – people dislodged from their homes;
• We talk about ‘care leavers’ – young people who often have had a difficult start in life;
• We talk about ‘addicts’, people suffering from alcohol and drug addictions.

Behind these labels are real people with hopes and dreams who are facing significant challenges.

The staggering numbers – 86,239 people on the social housing waiting list and 55,589 officially classified as homeless including 4,500 children – paint a grim picture of the scale of the issue.

The homelessness crisis didn’t emerge overnight; it’s been brewing for over two decades. Dysfunctional housing systems, lack of investment in affordable housing, and disjointed public policies have contributed to the problem. And factors like the pandemic, economic crises, and wars have exacerbated it, leaving thousands without a place to call home.

So what is our response?

Over the past 6 months, I have been working with colleagues, partners and clients to develop Simon Community’s new strategy for 2024 to 2029.

Our plan, entitled ‘Doing Things Differently’, presents a multifaceted response and a clear vision. But we cannot do it alone. On 1^st March 2024, we unveiled the new strategy to an audience of key stakeholders at Ulster Museum and we called for their collaboration and commitment to ending homelessness in Northern Ireland

Our priorities:

Prevention of homelessness

Stopping people becoming homeless in the first place will be a significant focus. We will increase support for people at risk of homelessness through quality community engagement and practical support including a homeless support line, Tenancy sustainment scheme and emergency financial interventions.

Providing the right support at the right time

Simon Community has provided temporary accommodation for those experiencing homelessness for many years. These services provide a vital lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, but they do not end homelessness. Over the next five years, we will work to reduce the average length of stay for people alongside improving access and quality of temporary accommodation.

Offering solutions to end homelessness

Temporary accommodation is critical but using it for extended periods impacts mental health, wellbeing and also creates a pattern where people remain in a cycle of homelessness. In the absence of sufficient homes, we will provide permanent housing solutions by growing its Creating Homes Programme. So far, we have purchased 17 properties and plan to scale this up significantly, as well as developing a socially responsible model for private landlords.

Supporting people experiencing homelessness through Housing First will be another focused area where wraparound services are provided in partnership with local Health Trusts. Over the next five years, we will expand the service geographically across Northern Ireland.

Develop, support, and invest in our People

As well as continually engaging with the people we help to improve what we are doing, we are also firmly committed to investing in our staff to create a skilled, resilient, and dedicated workforce. Through a robust People Plan the charity will be able to meet current recruitment challenges as well as upskill, encourage positive leadership, nurture employee’s wellbeing, personal development, and engagement.

Building a strong organisation for the future

We will maintain our strong governance to enhance service delivery and build a volunteer and partner support network across Northern Ireland.

As we look to the future, let’s remember that homelessness is is not just about numbers; it’s about lives.

The people we help have told us time and time again that they feel hopeless and that they have little control of their own lives. We must amplify the voices of those affected by homelessness, using our platform to change the narrative. And we must advocate for systemic change – investing in research and policy to find workable long-term solutions for the future.

Simon Community are just one organisation. We cannot solve this crisis alone. It requires a collective effort from across the public, private and political sectors. By working together with policymakers, community organisations and partners, we know we can create a future where everyone has a place to call home.

It’s time to end homelessness in Northern Ireland. And it’s time to do things differently.