Direct Access/ Emergency Accommodation - Single parents and families

These projects offer self-contained flats for single parents and families who are homeless.  They provide accommodation and support for when a family first becomes homeless.  The families needs are assessed and a Support Plan is developed to help them with their specific needs and to work through the reasons why they became homeless.  The single parent or couple must have presented as Homeless to NI Housing Executive and be referred through the Homeless Advice Centre (HAC)

We have accommodation provision in Belfast & Ballymena

Move-on Flats

Through our Cluster and move-on flats we are able to provide staged accommodation, which acts as a stepping-stone to independence from our direct access, emergency accommodation. Where it is felt that an individual is not quite ready for fully independent accommodation, these flats can provide a suitable alternative with support staff on call, which enables residents to "practise" their independent living skills in a safe, structured environment.  These flats are available in several of our projects, with Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine, Newry, Bangor and Derry all offering staged move-on accommodation.

Resettlement Support

Across our various projects we have many support systems built in to aid resettlement and to prevent former residents from becoming homeless again.  This starts with the resident and their Link Worker drawing up an Individual Programme Plan (IPP).  The IPP seeks to identify and address the resident's individual needs, be they practical e.g. budgeting, cooking or personal hygiene, or emotional e.g. social skills, addiction problems etc., and helps to assess how capable the resident is of coping on their own and to implement action plans for improving this ability.  As well as Link Workers each direct access hostel offers resettlement support which involves assessment and advice to individuals on their housing needs and suitable options, and for supporting residents in eventually moving on to accommodation of their choice.

Floating Support

Floating support involves visiting and supporting former residents in their new accommodation and helping them to maintain these new tenancies, should individuals wish to avail of this level of support.  Floating support is currently offered within the greater Belfast area and throughout the Newry and Mourne region. This service is due to be extended throughout Northern Ireland in the near future.  Contact the Floating Support Office at – (Belfast) Tel (028) 9075 6971. or (Newry & Mourne) Tel (028) 3083 3341. or (Down & Lisburn) Tel (028) 4483 9031

Email: floatingsupport@simoncommunity.org

          floatingsupport.newry@simoncommunity.org 

Foyer

Situated on the corner of Wellesley Avenue and Malone Road, the Belfast Foyer is more than just a place to live.  The Foyer's unique approach to the provision of accommodation aims to break the cycle of homelessness, to promote social inclusion and to allow young people to create their own opportunities in employment, training and education. 

The Belfast Foyer offers bed-sit accommodation with en-suite for up to 42 young people in housing need and is very much integrated into the local community.  The resident group is made up of young people aged 17 to 26 from all backgrounds with a variety of experiences of life and with an equal variety of needs.  In-house training and employment opportunities are on offer to Foyer residents and each resident must be involved in some level of training, employment or education, as their accommodation is very much tied to a level of activity in one or more of these areas.

The Foyer aims to offer a holistic service to develop each resident to the point where they can move to their own accommodation with greater self-esteem, employment or qualifications, an awareness of the services available to them in the community and improved independent living skills.

Care Leavers

A number of young people who approach us each year come from a care background. We work with the Health and Social Services Trusts to provide accommodation for young people leaving care to assist some of the most vulnerable people at this early age.  This involves block contracts (beds are hired out for a year or more) and spot contracts (beds are hired out when needed and available for a shorter period of time) with the Trusts for beds in several of our projects.

Our main care leaver facility is base at Cavehill Road in Belfast. Referral is made from North & West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust on behalf of young people aged 16 – 18 years who are in the care of the Trust.  Accommodation and intensive support is offered to up to three young people at a time.

Rent Guarantee Scheme  

The Rent Guarantee Scheme seeks to counter one of the main problems that homeless people meet when trying to rent a tenancy in the private sector, namely the difficulty in obtaining enough money to cover the rent deposit usually asked for by landlords, and a month's rent in advance.  By guaranteeing to pay arrears of up to one month's rent, should the tenant walk away from the tenancy, the Simon Community, in association with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, has opened up new accommodation opportunities for homeless people.

The Rent Guarantee Scheme offers support to tenants in an effort to prevent tenancy breakdowns, which usually occur within the first six months of occupation.  After the tenancy has been set up, tenants are guaranteed a minimum monthly visit from staff who can also take up an advocacy role with landlords, if needed.

There are advantages for the landlord too; as well as financial remuneration for any arrears, potential tenants on the scheme are assessed to ensure that they will be reliable and responsible tenants.