Accommodation Provision

 Ardmoulin Mews

Accommodation Provision
First Housing’s accommodation services are some of the best in Northern Ireland. Our transitional supported housing schemes, comprising family type accommodation and specialist interim accommodation facilities offer safe and secure housing and individual support to help people that are homeless overcome the barriers they face in relation to finding and sustaining a tenancy. Our facilities, which are located in Derry, Omagh and Belfast comprise modern, purpose built supported accommodation. Our award winning project ‘Shepherds View’ provides 16 units of self-contained accommodation to single parents and families, and our Ardmoulin Mews project offers 24 units to households

that are homeless and in need of interim accommodation provision.  These projects promote neighbourhood living and support the establishment of settled home infrastructures through pre-tenancy training, befriending and mentoring programmes and the provision of floating support.

                             In 2007, 380 people were housed in our temporary
                             accommodation and supported housing schemes.

The aim of our interim housing and community based accommodation projects is to help young people and families develop the skills to manage their own tenancies.

          Our Services

Our Services
Our accommodation services operate 24 hours a day 365 days per year to provide a safe, secure environment for both people defined in legislation as being in priority need and some individuals who may have no priority at all. We offer pleasant, attractive, self contained surroundings where clients are provided with a comprehensive housing rights service and resettlement support.

            Housing

Housing in the Community
By working in partnership with Supporting People, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Associations we have successfully secured a number of housing units in which to offer people who are homeless and those with complex housing needs a home of their own. Over the last 10 years we have successfully developed and expanded our range of accommodation and support services for people living in unsafe or inappropriate housing.

  By working alongside statutory organisations, Housing Associations and private sector landlords we have established a variety of projects and services that not only facilitate choice but also respond to the long-term housing needs and aspirations of people living in generic hostels and insecure accommodation.
Our Jefferson Court Neighbourhood Living Project in Derry comprising 26 units of self-contained accommodation supports people to transfer out of short-term crisis accommodation into self-contained accommodation.   We also provide specialised units of permanent accommodation for people with mental health illnesses within our Old City Court, Old School Lane and Hawkin Street projects in Derry.

In 2005 we opened our Francis Street project in Derry, an innovative housing development offering furnished self-contained apartment type accommodation to young people aged 16-25 years who have previously been in care.  This project, the only initiative of its kind in Northern Ireland offers outstanding accommodation within the confines of a safe and supported environment, delivering tailored tenancy training to young people so that they can move forward with their lives.

In 2011 SATH, formerly the Strabane Association for the Temporary Homeless, merged with First Housing to provide temporary accommodation to people considered to be homeless and in need of a temporary response to their housing issues.  SATH comprises 5 two-bed apartments catering for families, single parents and individuals in housing need in Lisnafin Park, Strabane.

Referrals are made principally through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, however we will consider request from other agencies to SATH.  Please contact Mary Mc Laughlin, Project Manager on 02871 383098