Belfast office: 3rd Floor, Andras House, 60 Great Victoria St, Belfast, BT2 7BB | Tel: 02890 246440 | North West office: Unit 15, Rath Mór Centre, Bligh’s Lane, Derry, BT48 0LZ | Tel: 02871 366363. We are grateful to those who support our work, including the NI Housing Executive. This site is kindly hosted by domain devils
our members
Our membership is broad, varied, and representative of the wider sector. It includes accommodation, support, and advice providers from across the voluntary, community, statutory and private sectors.
QUALITY TRAINING
OUR LOBBYING WORKS
TOP QUALITY SERVICE
SUPPORT ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHAT OUR MEMBERS THINK ABOUT US*
GET IN TOUCH
CONTACT US BY EMAIL, TELEPHONE, OR POST
We have two offices, operating hours 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, located in Belfast and Derry City:
CONTACT FORM (we endeavour to respond to all queries within 14 days)
Founded in 1983, we are the sole representative organisation for those working with and supporting homeless people across Northern Ireland. We are the independent voice of the sector.
our vision is that everyone has a place to call home.
We are the representative organisation for the homelessness sector in Northern Ireland
We are an independent voice, representing our members, influencing policy, and informing decision makers
We advise and train people working in the homelessness sector across the country
ABOUT US
OUR VISION STATEMENT
All people have a place that they are happy to call home*.
board of directors
Our board comprises of a diverse range of individuals, with a wide variety of skill sets and strengths. This ensures that we are able to continue with our objectives and deliver on our strategic aims.
fareshare ni
FareShare NI has been re-distributing surplus food amongst a network of member organisations across Northern Ireland from our Belfast food distribution centre since 2011.
information & research
We provide a diverse service to our members, producing consultation responses and policy documents on their behalf, information briefings, as well as conducting and commissioning research.
almost one third (32%) of households that approached the NI Housing Executive for help as homeless were families*.
The day-to-day operation is managed by the CEO, Ricky Rowledge, OBE, supported by deputy CEO, Margaret Henry. The CEO is responsible to the board of directors for the management of CHNI.
youth department
The team contributes directly to the development of best practice services for young people, through participation in key policy/planning groups, youth led research, & participation programmes.
training
The main aim of the programme is to keep service providers abreast of best practice and emerging issues. Our courses always reflect latest developments in practice and policy.
northwest
Through our Northwest Office, based in Derry City, we ensure that our services are provided to members and the wider sector across Northern Ireland.
representation
As well as sitting on a number of committees, staff represent our members and the wider sector on a number of policy & practice groups, and represent them to government and decision makers.
service user
involvement
We involve service users wherever possible in our projects and services. This is most notable in our:
By presenting the views of homeless people* we seek to shape government policy and public opinion to enable resources that ensure preventative and responsive services.
Homeless myths and facts poster, created for Homelessness Awareness Week 2016
HARM REDUCTION ADVICE BOOKLET : STIMULANTS
Harm reduction advice - 19 ways to reduce risk from stimulants use. Produced by CHNI, with advice from ‘Belfast Experts By Experience’ (BEBE), amongst others. Funded by PHA
HOMELESSNESS MANIFESTO
This manifesto sets out our suggested priority actions that the next Northern Ireland Assembly can take to make the greatest impact in tackling homelessness.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS POSTER
Poster, funded by the PHA, lists self referral temporary accommodation, advice & support services (march 2016). Also see our advice page.
ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR FURNITURE PROVISION FOR NEW HOUSING EXECUTIVE TENANTS
Research conducted in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre Regional Economic and Social Research, on behalf of the NIHE.
A PICTURE OF HEALTH - HEALTH OF THOSE STAYING IN TEMP. ACCOMM
A summary of findings from a survey exploring the health of people in temporary accommodation and other homelessness service settings.
(2013) practical steps you should take to ensure that your service and the people you support are ready for change.
REGIONAL SERVICE USER NETWORK WEBSITE
rsun is a NI wide network connecting people with experience of / interest in substance use issues. It is a CHNI project, funded by the Public Health Agency for NI.
ANNUAL RSUN / SERVICE USER SURVEY
Results of CHNI’s first annual service users’ survey, covering the period 2013-2014, summarised as an infographic. (2014-15 due soon)
NALOXONE SAVES LIVES
Info leaflet outlining the basics of what steps to take, (including Naloxone administration), when someone has accidentally overdosed.
HARM REDUCTION ADVICE FOR DRUG USERS
Basic information (not any specific drug), produced by CHNI & PHA and informed by the experiences of drug users (April 2014). See also mephedrone advice.
DON’T GET THE BLUES BENZO POSTER
Benzo (benzodiazepines) advice poster. CHNI publication, funded by PHA, design by HIT.
A step by step workbook for people using alcohol and other substances. It aims to help people find ways to achieve a more balanced daily diet.
NUTRITION ADVICE FOR ALCOHOL USERS
Harm reduction advice - 19 ways to reduce risk from stimulants use. Produced by CHNI, with advice from ‘Belfast Experts By Experience’ (BEBE), amongst others. Funded by PHA
INFORMATION FOR MEPHEDRONE USERS
Harm reduction advice for those using mephedrone.
‘TRACHY’ O.D. PROTOCOL
Opioid overdose response protocol for a person with a 'trachy' in place. (2014, Word doc)
YOUNG PEOPLE TELLING IT LIKE IT IS RESEARCH
Young People Telling It Like It Is (yptilii) - research into the accomm. needs of homeless 16-21 yr olds
CHNI YOUNG PEOPLE’S CHARTER
Charter for Change on Housing in NI, formed part part of a wider UK (2010) Joseph Rowntree project
82% of members surveyed rated the overall services offered by CHNI as 4 or 5 star. The remainder rated it as 3 out of 5.
91%
91% of members rated lobbying, representation and policy work as 4 or 5 star. (The remainder 3 star)
85%
85% of members rated our training programme as 4 or 5 star. (The remainder rated it as 3 star)
85%
85% of members surveyed rated our North West provision and support as 4 or 5 star. (Remainder 3 star)
Other services (% rated as 4 or 5 star): youth policy work, 92%; Information and research services, 91%; Fareshare NI, 100%; 78% reported 4 or 5 star satisfaction with their membership (remainder, 21%, 3 star)
17 APR. Inside Housing: Radical reform needed in private rented sector, thinktank warns. Click to view.
17 APR. Guardian: One in three UK millennials will never own a home - report. Click here to view.
17 APR. Independent: Millennials are set to rent for the rest of their lives - the UK's economy will see serious consequences. Click here to view.
17 APR. Resolution Foundation: The future fiscal cost of 'Generation Rent'. Click here to view.
16 APR. Inside Housing: Lack of access to emergency housing exacerbating homelessness among young. Click to view. See also Politics Home here and CYPNow here. Download report here
16 APR. Irish News: Claim that workers are `living in derelict buildings' to be investigated. Click here to view.
16 APR. Guardian: Rising homelessness reflects a wider war on working class people. Click here to view.
16 APR. Belfast Telegraph: Belfast's SOS Bus faces end of road due to funding. Click here to view.
16 APR. Inside Housing: Lack of access to emergency housing exacerbating homelessness among young. Click to view. See also Politics Home here and CYPNow here. Download report here
16 APR. Irish News: Claim that workers are `living in derelict buildings' to be investigated. Click here to view.
16 APR. Guardian: Rising homelessness reflects a wider war on working class people. Click here to view.
16 APR. Belfast Telegraph: Belfast's SOS Bus faces end of road due to funding. Click here to view.
16 APR. Belfast Live: Belfast man walking the whole way round Ireland for the homeless. Click here to view.
16 APR. Independent: Number of shelter beds for homeless people drops by a fifth under Conservatives. Click here to view.
16 APR. Inside Housing: On health, housing and care, party politics needs to come second. Click here to view.
12 APR. Guardian: England - escalation in placement of homeless families in temporary housing. Click here to view.
12 APR. Inside Housing: Majority of councils struggling to find homeless housing. Click here to view.
12 APR. Sky News: 'Truly terrible' homeless crisis likely to get worse. Click here to view.
12 APR. Inside Housing: Homeless family lived in hotel room for three years, Ombudsman finds. Click here to view.
11 APR. Guardian: Deaths of UK homeless people more than double in five years. Click here to view.
07 APR. Irish Times: Fact almost 10,000 people homeless a 'blight on society'. Click here to view.
06 APR. Belfast Live: Murder probe launched after death of homeless Polish man in Maghera. Click here to view.
05 APR. Red Pepper: The Homelessness Reduction Act won't help cash-strapped councils care for the homeless. Click here to view.
05 APR. Inside Housing: New homelessness duties cause concern for councils. Click here to view.
05 APR. Guardian: Homeless people are dying without dignity - they deserve better. Click here to view.
05 APR. Evening Standard: First vending machine for homeless people scrapped amid fears it 'encourages people to stay on the streets'. Click here to view.
04 APR. Birmingham News: 'Misguided' vending machine for homeless removed after three months. Click here to view. See Also BBC here
04 APR. Birmingham News: 'Misguided' vending machine for homeless removed after three months. Click here to view
