A total of £9million has been announced to fund the Housing Executive's Covid Reset Plan on homelessness this year.

The funding was announced by Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey.

The Covid Reset Plan 'The Way Home - Homelessness Response to Covid-19' aims to build on the collaborative response which has been so effective to date during the pandemic to end homelessness together.

It brings the total budget for homelessness for 2021/22 to £46m.

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Minister Hargey said: "It is vitally important that we build on the experiences of the pandemic in addressing homelessness and assisting some of the most vulnerable in society.

"Many of the actions taken since the emergence of the pandemic reflect the current strategic approach to tackling homelessness but the speed and flexibility adopted since March 2020 during the emergency response have shown that faster progress in our homelessness response is possible and necessary.

"The £9m for the Reset Plan, will enable the Housing Executive to continue to deliver the public health response and ensure that every effort is taken to engage with individuals on the street to offer them somewhere safe to stay. It will also ensure emergency accommodation is offered to all."