Today we had the honour to attend the launch of ‘A Place to Call Home’, produced by Queen’s University, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY).
A reminder that every child and young person deserves and has a right to adequate housing, not just that but the right to home. In January – June 2022, households and families accepted as homeless in NI included 3,495 children.
The shocking figures show that in July 2022, 3,913 children under 18 were living in temporary accommodation in NI, an increase from 2,433 in January 2019 (including children living with their families and young people aged 16–17 living independently). The report highlights many issues faced by the young people we support and include achievable recommendations that include:
- Health and Social Care Trusts should conduct children in need assessments in relation to all 16 & 17 year-olds who present as homeless, as outlined in the Children (NI) Order 1995.
- NIHE must never house young people under 18 in bed and breakfast accommodation.
- The NIHE should provide young people with information about their rights as well as their range of options regarding housing and accommodation in an accessible format.
We also want to take this opportunity on behalf of MACS staff and young people to thank Koulla Yiasouma, NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, for her hard work and dedication to our children and young people in the past 8 years.