Northern Ireland's response to homelessness must build on lessons learned during the pandemic, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has said.

Minister Hargey spoke about her continued focus on preventing homelessness ahead of a consultation due to launch shortly on the Housing Executive's new five year homelessness strategy 'Ending Homelessness Together'.

The Housing Executive's new strategy will build on much of the lessons learnt and will complement Year 3 of the Department's Interdepartmental Homeless Action Plan which will be published shortly.

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The Minister discussed the issue during a visit to the Queens Quarter Housing project, which currently receives funding from the Department's Homelessness Budget and from the Supporting People Budget, which are administered by the Housing Executive. 

"Our focus must be to ensure that people do not find themselves in this situation, and where this does happen, to support them out of it as soon as possible," said Minister Hargey.

"I have fully funded the Housing Executive's Covid Reset Plan on homelessness for this year bringing the total budget for homelessness for 2021/22 to approximately £50m. 

"Covid-19 has been extraordinarily challenging. What it has shown us though is the strength of our established partnership working and how our response to the issue can be quick, more flexible and effective.

"We must work collectively to address the underlying issues to eradicate homelessness in our society."