pressure on services, while conflict overseas brought the plight of refugees into sharper focus

The social isolation which resulted from the ongoing Covid restrictions undoubtedly had a profound impact on the wellbeing of those facing homelessness throughout the year, as many frontline services were unable to engage closely with service users.

In spite of this, Extern’s frontline teams continued to offer face-to-face contact where possible, providing vital services to over 1,300 individuals and families, with the aim of identifying suitable accommodation options whilst focusing on other complex needs such as addictions and mental health.

Funding was sought from commissioners to develop new services in specific geographical locations which would engage intensively with people with the aim of reducing homelessness and sustaining tenancies.

The overall aim of this would be to expand such a model of support to other areas within Northern Ireland as a response to the growing numbers of homeless families and individuals who had been presenting throughout the year.

Within Belfast, our projects engaged with a number of other external service providers in implementing the Complex Lives initiative, which aims to address homelessness and interrelated issues including drugs, alcohol and mental health. This multi-agency approach enables a co-ordinated wraparound approach to improve access to accommodation and treatment for people who are unable to find appropriate services to manage their circumstances.

Within our refugee services our teams set up online English classes, youth support programmes and mental health groups to ensure families and individuals remained engaged and connected to services.

During the second half of the year the teams returned to face-to-face delivery and weekly support clinics across a number of locations. Funding was secured to ensure the project could continue its work, albeit with

The crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine further presented a requirement to be responsive and adaptable to changing circumstances, with the NI Refugee Resettlement Service taking immediate action to ensure that the needs of individuals fleeing conflict could be met.

The year also saw the successful conclusion of two Derry-Londonderry-based projects, Positive Learning and Back on Track.

Supported through €1.8m of funding from the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, Positive Learning provided vocational training and good relationscentred work to people who found themselves on the margins of society, including those who are homeless; have been involved with the criminal justice sector; are long-term unemployed; or who are refugees.

The Back on Track programme, which was funded by The Executive Office as part of the Communities in Transition (CiT) programme, and managed by CoOperation Ireland, provided employability and training opportunities to those aged 16-plus living in the Brandywell and Creggan areas of the city. A total of 60 people were engaged, many of whom went on to secure permanent, meaningful employment at the end of their placement.

The soaring cost of living and pressures on staffing and budgets continued to be the main issues affecting projects and service users as the year progressed.

As is the case for many organisations within the health and social care sector, recruitment into both new and existing posts proved to be a challenge to fully introducing services into new geographical locations.

The objectives for the following financial year have included engaging with government and stakeholders within the homeless sector to identify key changes and policy drivers which can effect positive change in how individuals who are homeless are perceived within

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.