Housing Executive Chief Executive, Grainia Long, reflected on the unprecedented year, which saw the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and noted how the organisation had changed how it works to ensure customers were cared for.
She said; “Covid-19 presented huge challenges for us, as we moved staff out of offices to work at home, while lockdown restrictions and supply issues meant a backlog in tacking repairs and delays in much needed upgrade schemes on our estates.
“Despite this, and thanks to the dedication of our staff, we were able to continue to deliver services to tenants and communities to an extremely high level.
“£7.76m was invested in new-build accommodation. There are currently 84 units on-site, of which, 49 units started in 2020/21. Overall, there were 125 units completed during 2020/21, despite the pandemic.
“We provided over £68,000 in grant funding to support local groups in the Ards and North Down Borough, across several funding streams, including our Community Grants, Community Safety, Areas at Risk and Community Cohesion programmes.
“In terms of homelessness, there were 1,276 homelessness presentations last year, with 931 homelessness acceptances.
“Given the necessity to social distance the hostels in Ards and North Down, this situation placed enormous pressure on temporary accommodation in the borough and as we emerge from the pandemic, our reset plan, The Way Home, has been fully funded by the Department for Communities.”
“I’d like to sincerely thank the Ards and North Down Borough Councillors for their interest in our work and I very much look forward to engaging with them as we move away from the Covid pandemic in the year ahead.”
You can view the Ards and North Down Housing Investment Plan 2021 annual update below.
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