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.
“£54.67m was invested in new-build accommodation in the district, which saw 398 housing starts getting underway, while housing completions for the year were 117, despite the pandemic.
“We provided £78,642 in grant funding to support local groups in the Newry, Mourne and Down district, across several funding streams, including our Community Grants, Community Safety, Areas at Risk and Community Cohesion programmes.
“We also supported 792 people experiencing homelessness in the last year.
“Given the necessity to social distance the hostels in Newry, Mourne and Down, this situation placed enormous pressure on temporary accommodation in the district 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 Newry, Mourne and Down 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 Newry, Mourne and Down Housing Investment Plan 2021 annual update below.
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