Valerie Rooney – working to improve strategic policies within the Housing Executive

Valerie Rooney
Valerie Rooney

Helping mark our 50th anniversary, we’re getting to know some of the people making a difference in our communities.

Next up, is Valerie Rooney from Parkhead Crescent in Newry who has been a Housing Executive tenant for 37 years. 

She sits on the Central Housing Forum, representing South Down and is actively involved with looking after strategic policies within the Housing Executive.

A tenant led forum, it acts as a sounding board for any changes in the existing policies. 

She said; “I have sat on this forum for the past five years and tenants have their say on all aspects of the Housing Executive.
“We have our input into any consultations and we also have different tiers and working groups for different aspects of the Housing Executive such as welfare reform.

“We have a new one starting up on the disability actions for adaptations and what disabled people need done to their homes and the complexities of all of that.”

Valerie also sits on the Housing Executive’s 50th working group who are actively looking at ways the organisation can celebrate its 50th anniversary.

“My role in that is to put forward ideas as to how tenants will celebrate the anniversary and there’s been a lot of changes in the past 50 years in my area alone. 

“The Housing Executive has been very good and supportive of our local community group and granted money towards a kick about area and we were able to get a community house in an old bungalow. It has been a lifeline for the whole community. 

“Any problems we have at all and the Housing Executive are willing to help us. Housing in this area has grown and grown and social housing is the main type of housing.

“When we moved in at the start we had wooden windows and we persuaded the Housing Executive to put in double-glazing windows. 

“Most recently, the whole estate has had PVC windows fitted and they are a brilliant job – a lot warmer and more fuel efficient.”

Valerie says she would not live anywhere else, adding; “I have five children and they live in the same area and it’s a really close-knit community here”. 

Watch our interview with Valerie.