25 November 2002
BROWNE INTRODUCES THE HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER TO WESTMINSTER
Legislation that will provide funding for vital housing back-up services for vulnerable people in Northern Ireland has been laid before Parliament at Westminster by Des Browne, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
The Minister, who has responsibility for housing, has initiated the legislative process for the draft Housing Support Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.
This Order, when approved, will give the Northern Ireland Housing Executive responsibility for providing housing support services to individuals with particular needs and empowers the Executive to pay grants to eligible persons towards certain housing support services.
The Order amends section 129 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 to exclude payments in respect of such services when determining entitlement to housing benefit. The provisions mirror the measures contained in the Local Government Act 2000 (Sections 2 and Sections 92 – 96) and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 section 91.
The Minister recently confirmed that he intended to press ahead with the legislation that was initiated at the Assembly earlier this year to set up a Supporting People Fund in the Province. He said: "This will help improve the lives of people currently living at the margins of society. These include those who are socially excluded and those whose circumstances leave them with little hope.
"For example, we could be talking about a wife fleeing domestic violence or a teenage drug abuser. Or, perhaps, a homeless alcoholic or a frail elderly person afraid to open their front door in case they are mugged or burgled. These are people who are deprived of the housing security that the rest of us take for granted.
"There is no greater aspiration than the desire to live an independent life in the community. The establishment of a single fund will consolidate existing funding streams thereby and remove the disadvantages that these presently create."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
www.dsdni.gov.uk
- Support comes in many different forms. The most common is that provided by wardens in sheltered accommodation or support provided in homeless hostels. It may be something practical like helping a person to set up and maintain a home. It might be helping a person to develop domestic and practical skills to enable them to live more independently or simply giving them advice on issues such as financial management. It could equally be something personal like helping to develop social skills, giving emotional support and advice or simply befriending someone who is lonely. Or it may be aimed at ensuring that vulnerable people feel safe in their homes by giving help in establishing personal safety and security or providing community alarms.
- The Order and explanatory notes can be found on the DSD website at
The Order will be debated at Westminster on Wednesday 27 November 2002.
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