DSD

• DSD
• Council for the Homeless
• Department of Social Development

After presenting a cheque for £50,000 to Ricky Rowledge, Chief Executive of the Council for the Homeless for Northern Ireland, the Minister said:

"This is a particularly difficult time of year for those who find themselves homeless and I am pleased that again this year the Department for Social Development can make a significant contribution. The £50,000 that has been made available will provide for non housing items such as Christmas dinners and other things that we all take for granted and which make life more bearable.

Since Christmas 2000, around £300,000 has been made available for the homeless for non housing purposes. This has helped ensure that the homeless have been provided with Christmas dinners, personal hygiene products and clothing.

"I know that this year the money will go towards helping all those who are homeless not just the rough sleepers who are the most visible sign of our homelessness problem.

"I have previously made it clear that I want to focus on the vulnerable members of our society and to do everything possible to ensure that they have the same opportunity as the rest of society. The work of the voluntary and community sector and the statutory bodies helps to ensure that this becomes a reality.

"I have been greatly impressed and encouraged by the willingness of all those involved in the housing field, both in the statutory bodies and voluntary organisations, to meet the challenges that continually arise. I am confident that this will continue in the future particularly in regard to homelessness."

Many people who are homeless are vulnerable and have other underlying problems rather than simply not having a roof over their head.

The Council for the Homeless, founded in 1983, is an 'umbrella' organisation which provides support to around 80 voluntary bodies concerned with homelessness in Northern Ireland. Its voluntary members between them offer some 1500 accommodation places to homeless people throughout Northern Ireland and the Council, as well as providing training and other support services to these bodies, operates a lobby/pressure group on behalf of the homeless.