Housing Executive funding puts tenants on a firm footing
A north Belfast charity which received almost £25,000 from the Housing Executive for a family support worker is going from strength to strength.
Grace Women’s Development, based at Alliance Avenue, is a family hub at the heart of the community which aims to provide the best possible start for people in terms of their health, wellbeing and life chances.
The Housing Executive grant is funding the part-time family support worker over two years under its Sustaining Tenancies Grant Funding Programme, which helps vulnerable customers who are at a greater risk of tenancy breakdown.
Applications to the Sustaining Tenancies fund are still open and groups can apply for grants of up to £100,000 until October 20, 2023, at www.nihe.gov.uk.
Grace Director Sally Smyth said: “We were delighted to receive this funding from the Housing Executive, which is a fantastic help with the work that we do.
“Our two year project began in May 2022 and we are getting hugely positive feedback from tenants.
“The grant is being used to employ a family support worker which means we can expand and enhance our existing services for families in Ardoyne and surrounding areas of north and west Belfast and we now cater for larger numbers of tenants, thanks to the Housing Executive’s generous support,” she said.
“There are no other dedicated family support services in the Ardoyne and surrounding area so this funding is vitally important and we are now working directly with over 200 people in what is one of the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.
“Our service includes one to one advice clinics and workshops on health eating, mental health, budgeting, managing your home, housing rights and benefits.
“We are also developing bespoke personal development and family support plans for up to 60 people.”
Sally added: “Before we received this grant our family support service was operating on a shoestring budget and we relied heavily on the dedication and support of volunteers, who continue to help us.
“Our participants are not only more confident but have greatly enhanced self-esteem. We firmly believe that our support enables them to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.
“In turn, this enables them to manage their homes more efficiently and effectively and encourages sustaining their tenancies not only in the short term but in the long term as well.”
Sally said that the charity had detected a spike in social isolation, particularly during the pandemic when many older people were shielding and relied on family, friends, and community groups to ensure they were happy and healthy in their own home.
“This scheme also enabled at risk families to bounce back positively from the impact of the pandemic,” she added.
Gerard Flynn, the Housing Executive’s North Belfast Area Manager, said: “Our staff have been able to use links with Grace to improve relationships with tenants and together we are working towards creating a better environment for all.
“We want people to have resilient, sustainable tenancies in the short, medium and long term and we’re working together with many local groups to improve the lives of our tenants.
“We believe that indirectly over 800 people could benefit from this investment including family members connected to the people involved in Grace’s family support programmes.
“By giving them the right information, practical skills and resources we are providing people with a platform to live healthier and happier lives, and to also positively influence their family members, neighbours, colleagues and classmates as they share ideas and advice with each other.
“This scheme has been very successful in helping our young tenants and we are delighted with the outcomes.”
Emma Geddis, from the Housing Executive’s Sustaining Tenancies Funding Programme, said: “We are delighted to have been able to provide funding to support the worthwhile work that Grace Women’s Development do.
“The range of services that they tirelessly provide for tenants is a credit to Sally and her team.
“The outcomes for the project have been really positive to date and are making a real impact on the lives of tenants and their families in Ardoyne and the surrounding areas.”