TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND

COVID-19 and temporary accommodation 

The COVID-19 pandemic placed renewed focus on temporary accommodation, as the Housing Executive, Department for Communities and Department of Health worked to ensure accommodation was available for those people who would not usually be entitled to assistance.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Housing Executive changed its approach to temporary accommodation, trialling new approaches to procurement and to placements.  

Strategic review of temporary accommodation 

The Housing Executive has committed to a strategic review of temporary accommodation as part of the current homelessness strategy. Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic will help to shape the future of temporary accommodation.  

This course will include information on: 

• the types of temporary housing commonly used by the Housing Executive 

• the Housing Executive's legal duties and discretionary powers to provide temporary accommodation 

• changes to temporary accommodation provision in response to COVID-19 

• the status of residents in temporary accommodation and their rights 

• paying for temporary accommodation 

• the suitability of temporary accommodation 

• and the process for reviewing an offer if it is considered unsuitable for your client. 

Prerequisites 

Participants should be familiar with the homelessness tests and the Housing Executive’s role in helping homeless people in Northern Ireland.  If you are not familiar with the four homelessness tests, you should complete our training course on this topic before continuing with this course. 

Resources 

This course is bundled with our latest Professional Resource on Temporary Accommodation. All participants will receive a copy of this resource. 

Why train with Housing Rights 

Housing Rights is the leading housing specialist charity in Northern Ireland, and we train more than 800 people per year on housing law and related topics.   

Housing Rights provides an innovative range of training courses on housing and welfare related issues. When developing our training programme, we look at upcoming changes in legislation and policy along with feedback from service users. We combine this information with the front-line experience of our advisers and solicitors to develop practical, informative, and relevant courses that help housing and welfare professionals deliver high quality advice services to clients.  

100% of our delegates say they would attend our training again and recommend it to others.