A homeless outreach charity in Belfast is calling on Stormont to create a new night shelter for rough sleepers in the city.
The People’s Kitchen brought Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for a tour of their Antrim Road hub on Wednesday morning, giving the minister a chance to see their premises and chat to some service users.
The charity say they have seen a “significant increase” in those presenting for support, and are calling on the government to provide better services for people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues.
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Volunteers from The People’s Kitchen are calling for the provision of a new night shelter in the city centre to address the needs of rough sleepers, and have confirmed they’re launching a new night time support unit in the city.
Speaking to Belfast Live at the hub, co-ordinator and local councillor Paul McCusker said a more thorough night-time service is needed, with people being forced to spend the night in hospital emergency departments to keep warm.
He said: “We’re looking to launch a night time homeless support unit, which would give housing advice and we’re working with a local pharmacist to provide medical support.
“After 5pm in Belfast, services tend to step down a bit, so we’re looking to provide a place people can come in the evening for advice, medical support, and referrals to housing. We’re hoping we can link this in with the Homeless Support Unit.
“There are at least ten people I know who go to their local ED at night as they have nowhere else to go. They go to A&E, which is under immense pressure at the minute, but the pressures on health are being exacerbated because of a lack of housing for people who find a safe space tonight in the Mater Hospital or the Royal.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons with Paul McCusker and Damian McNairney at The People’s Kitchen
(Image: Belfast Live)
Each morning, The People’s Kitchen supports 80 to 100 people at their drop-in service with breakfast and referrals to other services, including housing, addiction, and benefits services, with support for many more people through their daily city centre outreach.
As a voluntary organisation, they do not receive government funding support, with Paul urging the Communities Minister to help charity groups combat rough sleeping. To tackle the myriad of issues, he said it requires a joined-up thinking between Stormont departments.
“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the past six months,” Paul added. “There are a lot more vulnerable people in this city who are homeless, and we need a commitment from the minister and his Department to end rough sleeping. We need work between departments, homelessness is a health issue.
“We started doing this nine years ago helping ten people, now we’ve feeding over a thousand people a week. There’s an emergency on our streets, and we’ve asked the minister to look at opening an emergency night shelter to create more beds for people at night so they have somehwere to go.
“This place is a lifeline for people. We need more support from government, and we need funding. Empathy is one thing we get a lot, but that’s one thing, action is another.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he visited The People’s Kitchen to hear first hand from volunteers and service users to see how his department can provide additional support.
The Minister said: “We know of the ongoing presures on our housing system, and those who are facing homelessness are very much at the sharp end of those pressures. The People’s Kitchen is one of a number of voluntary organisations assisting some of the most vulnerable in our community. Collectively, across the government, statutory and voluntary sphere, there is a determination to address this problem.”
Inside The People’s Kitchen’s hub on Antrim Road in North Belfast
(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
Outlining the Department for Communities’ work to address lengthy housing waiting lists, Minister Lyons added: “Last month, I unveiled the Executive’s Housing Supply Strategy, which outlines a way forward to tackle a range of housing issues in Northern Ireland, including homelessness.
“I said then, and repeat now, we must be radical in our approach, seeking innovative solutions, thinking of different ways to respond to need. Work on delivering this continues at pace, and initatives to provide more cost-effective accommodation, and housing for those moving on from temporary accommodation, are progressing.
“Alongside this, I have provided an additional £6.7m for the Housing Executive to prevent the risk of homelessness service colsures and ensure statutory obligations can continue to be met.
“It is my ambition to prioritise prevention and work with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurrent. I recently announced from 2025-26 onwards the NIHE will receive a specific allocation for Homelessness Prevention.
“I recognise it will take time – and a combined effort – to achieve this ambition, and our immediate short-term focus must continue to be supporting those currently in crisis.
“There is also an appreciation that homelessness is ultimately about individuals and families. Accommodation is key, but it often has to be accompanied by support services which recognise the often complex needs of those who are facing homelessness.”
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