They have warned of a “system at breaking point” as homeless people are being left without needed support
Frontline staff in Northern Ireland’s homelessness sector have warned levels of demand for housing cannot be met. They have said homeless people are being left without the accommodation and housing they need due to a “system at breaking point.”
A new report from UK-wide homelessness charity, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, found the overwhelming majority (89%) of frontline staff working in Northern Ireland’s homelessness sector reported an increase in demand for their services in the last 12 months.
They have warned the homelessness situation will only get worse in the next few years, with 89% of staff saying it was difficult to access suitable accommodation for those who need it, while 62% of respondents said this had got worse in the last 12 months.
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Declan Morris (49) works as the Project Manager of Extern Homes in NI, a project offering safe and stable accommodation for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. He said: “People on the frontlines are working tirelessly but we also need time to stop and breathe.
“To reflect on and process what we’re seeing and re-group so we can provide a better service. Homelessness isn’t going away any time soon – its time government recognised that and invested in longer term solutions and contracts.”
Reflecting on the current situation, one charity worker in Belfast added: “Even when offers are made for social housing, it is difficult to find support/suitable furniture/white goods etc meaning clients are not equipped to sustain the tenancies and at high risk of homelessness once again.”
The lack of suitable accommodation and increased pressure on other services is creating a perfect storm, with too many people with more complex needs falling through the gaps and being left without support or stuck in unsuitable housing and unable to move forward.
Those working on the frontline consistently reported that disconnected or insufficient services and lack of joint responsibility across housing, health and support are significantly harming outcomes. Long waiting lists were identified as a barrier by 91% of staff and nearly 8 in 10 staff (78%) said it was difficult to get support for people with both a mental health need and a substance misuse support need.
Nearly half (45%) of frontline staff also report digital exclusion to be an issue preventing many at risk of homelessness from accessing the support they need with statutory services increasingly requiring people to fill in online forms, rather than being able to turn up and ask for help.
St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to invest in new accommodation, homelessness services, and frontline staff. The charity said the widespread risk of frontline staff burnout needs to be a wake-up call to government.
Commenting on the survey, Duncan Shrubsole, Chief Executive Officer, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity said: “Homelessness is rising and yet it is ever harder to find the accommodation and support services people need to move out of or away from homelessness. Staff on the frontline are basically working miracles – going above and beyond to make a difference every day in near impossible circumstances. It’s not enough to rely on their good will and dedication. It’s not sustainable and it shouldn’t have to be.
“We need to address the significant barriers to finding appropriate and affordable housing and we need to see significant and sustained investment nationally and locally in vital homelessness support services – including manageable caseloads, better pay and progression opportunities for frontline staff, time for reflection and professional development for the benefit of service delivery and, ultimately, people’s lives.
“Across the UK Governments and funders need to prioritise and support the homelessness workforce. In England the Government has promised a new homelessness strategy – they now need to deliver and fast, with action to ensure accommodation is available and affordable and that vital frontline workers are valued, supported, fairly treated and paid. This report shows how committed they are, but without change we fear too many homelessness workers will be burnt out or leave and too many people will then be left without the help they need.”
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