A public consultation has launched on plans to improved how social homes are allocated in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Communities is to host a number of events which will take place on:

• 13 November at City Hotel, L'Derry from 10am – 1pm

• 15 November at Omagh Enterprise Centre from 10am – 1pm

• 21 November at NICVA, Belfast from 10am – 4pm

• 24 November at Craigavon Civic Centre from 10am – 1pm.

-- Advertisement --

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive's (NIHE) Housing Selection Scheme, the system for assessing housing need and allocating social homes, has been in place, largely unchanged, since 2000. Housing stress is affecting over 22,000 households in Northern Ireland and 11,000 households per year are considered homeless.

The proposals follow extensive research by the Department and a debate on the Housing Selection Scheme in the Assembly in September 2016.

The system will continue to be an objective assessment of housing need and the proposals aim to ensure that those in the greatest housing need receive priority, with recognition of their time in need.

For further information email: [email protected]