HOMELESS SERVICES

Must Hostel

LOCATION: Cookstown-based, covering all of NI

Mid-Ulster and South Tyrone (MUST) Hostel offers accommodation, support and help, tailored to the specific needs of single people who are homeless and aged 18-65. The hostel aims to deliver a modern supported housing service which is flexible and has a holistic approach to the individual in order to meet service users’ needs. The hostel has 20 beds and accepts both males and females. MUST Hostel is also a Probation Approved Hostel and works with PBNI to supervise those who are subject to supervision under licences or other restrictions.

Tel: +44 (0)28 8676 2065 Email: mustadmin@extern.org

Sail Project

LOCATION: Cookstown-based, covering all

of NI

The SAIL (Supporting Adults for Independent Living) Project is a Supporting People-funded floating support service and was established by our MUST Hostel in Cookstown, with the aim of enabling people to live independently within the community and to help people to sustain their tenancies. The project offers support and advice to those experiencing homelessness and to those who are at risk of becoming homeless within the Mid-Ulster and South Tyrone area. It offers housing-related support tailored to the specific needs of each client, adopting a flexible and holistic approach. Referrals to this service can be made directly by the client, as well as family and friends, Northern Ireland Housing Executive or other agencies.

Tel: +44 (0)28 8676 1586 Email: mustadmin@extern.org

Extern Homes

LOCATION: Nothern Ireland

Extern Homes provides safe and stable places to live for people who are homeless, or who are facing homelessness, by purchasing and refurbishing houses, through which it offers a tenancy period of up to two years. During that time tenants are offered and provided with tenancy support and engagment with local advice services, as well as access to training and employment opportunities, in order to empower them to move on with their lives. Following this, Extern helps tenants to secure longer term accommodation, based on having developed a positive tenancy history, and having been encouraged to save for a future tenancy deposit.

Potential tenants are nominated via statutory and/or voluntary sector organisations e.g. social services, homelessness organisations, support services, housing agencies.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9084 0555 Email: declan.morris@extern.org

Refugee Floating Support

LOCATION: Greater Belfast

The Refugee Floating Support Service offers support to individuals and families who have been granted refugee status and who have been given leave to remain in the UK. Operating since 2013, the project works intensively with refugees during the 28-day notice period given to move out of NASS accommodation, and provides medium to long term specialist and practical support and advice to resettle in the community. The service aims to prevent homelessness, and to maintain tenancies, by directly supporting individuals who have housing issues and practical problems settling in the local community. This service can be accessed through open/self-referral.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9033 0433 Email: hst@extern.org

The Drugs Accommodation Support Project (DASP) supports IV drug users to stabilise their lives by accessing temporary supported accommodation with a specialist worker. Through the programme, Extern supports active drug users in moving from the streets and into stable supported accommodation and addiction treatment. This service is provided with the help of partners in the Housing Executive, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Public Health Agency, PSNI and DPP. Referrals to this service can be made directly by individuals or from any source. Service users must have an injecting drug issue and be homeless to access the specialist support.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9033 0433 Email: info@extern.org

Floating Support

LOCATION: Northern Ireland

Floating Support delivers a flexible and responsive service to medium to high risk ex-offenders living in the community. The service is funded by Supporting People and aims to enable these individuals to make the transition from prison to the community, obtain suitable accommodation and maintain their tenancies. The service also supports individuals to maintain positive mental health, counter social isolation, and, importantly avoid further offending. Interventions are based on the Good Lives model, building on strengths and tailored to the individual’s needs. Referrals to this service are made via Probation, Health and Social Care Trusts and prisons.

Tel: +44 (0)7436 836645 Email: theresa.ormandy@extern.org

Homeless Traveller Project

LOCATION: Greater Belfast

This project provides intensive support to members of the Traveller Community, both individuals and families, in relation to housing and homelessness, tenancy sustainment and link-up with statutory health and social care services around multi-complex needs including mental health, family and childcare issues, addiction, offending, and physical health. This project operates on a multi-agency collaborative model and is part of the Traveller Support Network for Greater Belfast. The service can be accessed through open/self-referral.

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9033 0433 Email: hst@extern.org

Alcohol Housing Support

LOCATION: Belfast

Extern’s Alcohol Housing Support works with adults who are at risk of homelessness as a result of their chronic/severe alcohol use. Referrals to the service can be made by any person who wants help, a family member or a concerned professional. Engagement is entirely voluntary and the person can withdraw from the service at any time. Extern will work together with the referred person to agree a plan to address alcohol-related issues. With agreement, there may be liaison with other agencies e.g. addiction, housing, benefits etc. to assist.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9033 0433 Email: ahstreferral@extern.org

Ormeau Centre

LOCATION: Greater Belfast

Operating since 1978, the Ormeau Centre offers support to men and women (18+) experiencing homelessness. It operates an open, non-judgmental referral policy and is available 24 hours a day, 365 nights a year. The centre offers person-centred support, individually-tailored support plans, crisis intervention around complex needs, specialist IV drug accommodation, and referral and signposting to other agencies, both statutory and voluntary. Referrals are made from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9023 8091 Email: ormeaucentre@extern.org

MDHST is a Belfast-based outreach team working in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Belfast Health & Social Care Trust to provide assistance, support and advocacy, to adults and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have complex additional needs, including diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health, substance misuse, physical health issues, offending backgrounds, learning disability and family issues. The team also provides a complex needs floating support service.

Since 2018, MDHST has expanded into the South Eastern Trust area, offering an expansion of the service delivered in Belfast. It also offers support through dispersed projects in the following areas: North Down and Ards, Newcastle and Enniskillen. (Referrals for these dispersed projects are a closed pathway for NIHE.) MDHST can be accessed through open/self-referral.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9033 0433 Email: hst@extern.org

Referrals for the South Eastern and dispersed projects are accessed via the local NIHE office.

Probation Approved Accommodation

LOCATION: Belfast-based, covering all of NI

Extern currently operates two facilities for those who have been through the criminal justice system. The Innis Centre and Dismas House provide accommodation, supervision and monitoring, for people within the criminal justice system, so that they can be positively reintegrated into the community. Working closely with Probation Officers, staff provide support and supervision until appropriate, permanent accommodation has been identified and agreed. Staff in both Innis and Dismas provide housing support and assist service users to access services and improve their lives with regard to independent living skills, finance, physical and mental health and substance abuse. Referrals to this service are made via Probation Board for NI.

Innis Centre Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 1876 Email: innis@extern.org

Dismas House Tel: +44 (0)28 9064 3669 Email: dismascore@extern.org

Due to depression and anxiety I found I couldn’t cope with keeping on top of things at home. I have difficulty doing even everyday things like cooking, shopping or budgeting. I wasn’t coping well at all, so I had to give up my tenancy.

I went to a hostel but found it too chaotic, so I applied to go to Extern’s MUST hostel in Cookstown. Things were much more structured there for me. There is a lot more support from the staff, and they spend a lot of time just talking to you and helping you get the support you need.

I feel a lot more stable and safe at MUST. There is always someone around to talk things through with or get you the help you need in order to move forward.

I always feel understood and not judged by the staff. They’ll always provide the help and support you need if you are willing to work with them.

Floating Support

LOCATION: Northern Ireland

Floating Support delivers a flexible and responsive service to medium to high risk exoffenders living in the community. The service is funded by Supporting People and aims to enable these individuals to make the transition from prison to the community, obtain suitable accommodation and maintain their tenancies. The service also supports individuals to maintain positive mental health, counter social isolation, and, importantly avoid further offending. Interventions are based on the Good Lives model, building on strengths and tailored to the individual’s needs. Referrals to this service are made via Probation, Health and Social Care Trusts and prisons.

Tel: +44 (0)7436 836645 Email: theresa.ormandy@extern.org

Probation Approved Accommodation

LOCATION: Belfast-based, covering all of NI

Extern currently operates two facilities for those who have been through the criminal justice system. The Innis Centre and Dismas House provide accommodation, supervision and monitoring, for people within the criminal justice system, so that they can be positively reintegrated into the community. Working closely with Probation Officers, staff provide support and supervision until appropriate, permanent accommodation has been identified and agreed. Staff in both Innis and Dismas provide housing support and assist service users to access services and improve their lives with regard to independent living skills, finance, physical and mental health and substance abuse. Referrals to this service are made via Probation Board for NI.

Innis Centre Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 1876 Email: innis@extern.org

Dismas House Tel: +44 (0)28 9064 3669 Email: dismascore@extern.org

I had survived domestic, sexual, and mental abuse. Then I lost both my parents in traumatic ways, and my life fell apart. I froze, as a person, in mind, in living, I was barely surviving. I couldn’t speak.

I tried everything, even suicide attempts. I was begging for help, yet no one could hear me. My own self destruction was all I could focus on. Depression suffocated me, blinded and deafened me, for those years.

I committed a crime, and was given probation for a year. I was asked when was the last time I had spoken to anyone. I was shocked that it had been almost four years.

Then I was introduced to Extern. They had to take a person who didn’t have hope, who didn’t know how bad or mentally ill she was, and break 30 years of abusive behaviour. At that time, I was being evicted from my family home. Extern found me a place to live, yet stayed with me to make sure I could sustain it.

I owe my life, my self-worth, my health, my hope, my beliefs – and most importantly I owe my home, my journey to recovery and my journey to living - to Extern.

Claire, Floating Support

Homeless Traveller Project

LOCATION: Greater Belfast

This project provides intensive support to members of the Traveller Community, both individuals and families, in relation to housing and homelessness, tenancy sustainment and link-up with statutory health and social care services around multi-complex needs including mental health, family and childcare issues, addiction, offending, and physical health. This project operates on a multi-agency collaborative model and is part of the Traveller Support Network for Greater Belfast. The service can be accessed through open/self-referral.

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9033 0433 Email: hst@extern.org

Refugee Floating Support

LOCATION: Greater Belfast

The Refugee Floating Support Service offers support to individuals and families who have been granted refugee status and who have been given leave to remain in the UK. Operating since 2013, the project works intensively with refugees during the 28-day notice period given to move out of NASS accommodation, and provides medium to long term specialist and practical support and advice to resettle in the community. The service aims to prevent homelessness and to maintain tenancies by directly supporting individuals who have housing issues and practical problems settling in the local community. This service can be accessed through open/self-referral.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9033 0433 Email: hst@extern.org

Ni Refugee Resettlement Service

LOCATION: Northern Ireland

The service provides key workers to support individuals and families arriving in Northern Ireland who have been forced to flee their homes and who have been granted refugee status and given leave to remain in the UK. Staff work intensively with individuals and families from point of arrival, providing holistic assessment of needs, practical support and link-up with statutory services to help families resettle in NI. This service is provided in partnership with Barnardo’s NI, Bryson Intercultural and the Red Cross. Referrals to this service are made via the UK government, who identify families for resettlement.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9027 8424 Email: info@extern.org

Homes For Ukraine

LOCATION: Northern Ireland

Homes for Ukraine is a Government scheme developed in 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Extern is one of the delivery partners responsible for screening potential ‘hosts’, who will offer accommodation to individuals who are fleeing conflict. This service is offered in partnership with Barnardo's and supported by other external agencies including government departments within Northern Ireland. Applications can be made via NI Direct, and allocations are made via local government agencies.

Email: ukrainianhosts@extern.org