Meet Trina: Leading Housing Support at MACS

Trina Harpur is our dedicated Head of Housing here at MACS. With a passion for supporting young people to build brighter futures, Trina leads our Housing Services across Northern Ireland.

Trina brings 20 years of experience in the Homeless Sector across Ireland, and a compassionate, hands-on approach to her work. She oversees our housing service, making sure that every young person has a safe place and the support they need to thrive.

Trina is driven by our mission to end youth homelessness in Northern Ireland and is always championing innovation, teamwork and positive change.

What does your role as Head of Housing involve, and what are your main areas of focus?

As Head of Housing at MACS, I’m responsible for overseeing Belfast, Lisburn, Downpatrick and Newry. My focus is on:

Managing staff teams across our supported accommodation schemes, ensuring they’re well-trained, trauma-informed and supported in their roles.
Maintaining safe, welcoming and youth-friendly living environments for young people aged 16–25 and ensuring quality and compliance.
I am also the Head of Safeguarding, where my role is making sure young people are protected and staff are confident in identifying and responding to concerns.
Collaborating with partners, like the Housing Executive and social services, to ensure smooth referrals, transitions, and move-on options.
My role is about creating the conditions where young people not only have a roof over their head, but the support and space to thrive.

From your perspective, what are the main challenges facing young people who are trying to access safe and affordable housing in Northern Ireland?

There is a shortage of social housing, which means many young people face long waiting times, even when they are assessed as high priority. Private rents keep rising far beyond what most under-25s can afford, especially those relying on benefits. Welfare restrictions like the Shared Accommodation Rate mean many can only access a room in a shared house, which often is not suitable for vulnerable young people. Family breakdown is a common trigger for youth homelessness, but under current rules, many young people are recognised as ‘intentionally homeless’. On top of this, complex needs such as trauma, care experience or mental health challenges can make it harder to find and keep a tenancy without the right support.

How has the housing landscape changed during your time working in this field?

The pressures have definitely grown. Demand for Supported Housing has soared, especially since the pandemic, but funding and move-on options have not kept pace. The system feels much more gridlocked, with young people staying longer in Supported Housing, not because they need more support, but because there is simply nowhere affordable to move on to. Mental health needs are more pronounced too, and the services around us, like CAMHS and adult mental health teams, are stretched thin. As a result, housing staff are often holding more risk. That said, I feel hopeful that the Youth Homelessness Action Plan from the Housing Executive is a step forward. It is encouraging to see these issues being recognised and tackled.

What makes MACS’ housing services different to other models of support?

We have a wide mix of referral pathways and placements, including flats for care leavers, 18 to 21-year-olds experiencing homelessness, and assessment flats for 16 and 17-year-olds.

Our youth-led ethos means young people are genuinely at the heart of everything, from how their support is planned to how services are shaped.

We do not just provide a roof over someone’s head. We focus on building trust, confidence and coping skills through trauma-informed practice.

Supporting independence is key. We help young people learn to cook, budget, manage appointments and make decisions, all essential skills for sustaining a tenancy.

Above all, we have a creative, non-judgemental culture. We meet young people where they are, not where we think they should be.

We meet young people where they are, not where we think they should be.

Can you share an example of how housing support has made a real difference for a young person?

One young person came to us after a breakdown in foster care and multiple exclusions from school. They arrived withdrawn and anxious. Over time, through daily check-ins, one-to-one sessions and a lot of patience, they started to re-engage, first socially, then with education. By the time they moved on, they had enrolled in a vocational course, were budgeting confidently, and had rebuilt contact with their family. The transformation was not overnight, but it was real and lasting.

What would you say are the key ingredients for helping a young person sustain their tenancy successfully?

Building practical skills, like budgeting, cooking and managing routines, is so important.
Consistent, trusted relationships with staff who believe in them and do not give up when things go wrong.
Support for mental health and wellbeing so they can manage stress, setbacks and loneliness.
Positive move-on planning, including visiting their new home together, linking in with local services and offering ongoing emotional support.

What do you think needs to change in policy or funding to better support young people at risk of homelessness?

There needs to be more investment in housing options for young people, both within and beyond Belfast. Better mental health provision is essential, so housing staff are not left managing high-risk situations on their own. There should also be a stronger focus on early intervention. Support should be in place before homelessness happens.

What do you find most rewarding about working in housing support?

Seeing young people discover their own strength. There is so much hope in MACS services. With the right support at the right time, these services can be genuinely transformative. Being part of that journey, even for a short time, is incredibly rewarding.

Learn more about our housing services at MACS here.