A new €1.1 million project has been launched which aims to promote good relations across housing associations in Northern Ireland and the Border Regions.

The Housing Associations Integration Project (HAIP), funded by the EU's Peace IV Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), will bring together social housing residents from a range of religious and cultural backgrounds to share experiences, learn about differences and embrace diversity in the communities in which they live.

With over 1,000 residents across 40 neighbours taking part, the aim of the scheme is to improve and sustain positive relationships with local people and their neighbours from different cultures and countries.

The initiative will be rolled out under a stage process;

• Community Audit

• Community Capacity Building

• Cross Community/Cross Border Community Skills Workshops

• Bringing the Learning Back

• Sharing Best Practice

Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

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Alan Shannon, Chairperson of the Project Steering Committee for the HAIP, said: "Peace IV funding has enabled us to secure €1.1m of funding to deliver a significant cross-border social housing project, The Housing Associations Integration Project (HAIP).

"It is the first initiative of its kind to cover Northern Ireland and the border counties and aims to promote good relations within and across housing associations. The project will be delivered by a new partnership involving four of Northern Ireland's largest housing associations (Radius, Clanmil, Choice and Apex), TIDES Training, Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA), and the Irish Council for Social Housing.

"The project partners have come together because of their combined scale, regional spread and their experience of promoting and working in good relations. We are looking forward to working with our partners and communities to deliver this exciting project."

Discussing how the project is developing, Richard Mealey, HAIP's Project Coordinator, said: "Nine community audits across different housing developments have already been conducted, with many more scheduled for the coming months. A total of 40 audits will form the basis, understanding and rationale for all future cross community activity.

"It is envisaged that over 1000 tenants from 40 neighbourhoods will take part in community building programmes and skills workshops by August 2020. A number of study visits are also scheduled, and we are looking to develop a range of new community-based partnerships which will provide an important channel for residents to meet regularly and share ideas."

Image: (L – R) Alan Shannon, Chairperson of the Steering Group Committee for the Housing Associations Integration Project (HAIP); Richard Mealey, Project Coordinator, HAIP and Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body.

(LM)