Personal Grants Pilot Launched

MACS Supporting Children and Young People has launched a pioneering Personal Grants Programme, aimed at offering direct financial support to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness across Northern Ireland.

The scheme is designed to break down practical barriers by providing flexible funding for essential items including clothing, training, household goods, or even support to start a business. The ultimate goal is to give young people more autonomy in shaping their futures, supporting independence, wellbeing, and long-term stability.

“This isn’t just a housing crisis, it’s a human one,” said Ciara Scollay, Head of Floating Support and Outreach Services at MACS.

“In Northern Ireland, 59,518 people are currently without a home, including 18,567 children under 18. That is unacceptable, with nearly £39 million spent last year on temporary accommodation alone.

The Personal Grants Programme marks a vital shift toward prevention, giving young people the freedom to choose the support they need, whether that’s help with rent, training, or something that builds confidence. Rooted in our values of dignity and togetherness, this approach recognises their right to be trusted, listened to, and empowered to build lasting change in their lives.”

Young people engaged in similar programmes elsewhere in the UK have reported:

Launching small businesses
Taking their first ever holiday
Improved mental health, confidence and independence
Support with food, rent, and clothing
Increased access to education, employment and training
Securing permanent homes through help with rent or deposits
Removal of other barriers preventing them from exiting homelessness

The Personal Grants Programme is part of a wider UK trial led by the Centre for Homelessness Impact, testing how personalised budgets can effectively reduce homelessness. It is being independently evaluated by King’s College London using a randomised controlled trial design.

Results from earlier pilots are encouraging: 86% of participants remained out of homelessness after 6 to 12 months, and over 90% moved into and sustained permanent accommodation. The average cost per person was £1,319, a fraction of the estimated public cost of up to £35,000 per person annually.

Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, welcomed the launch:

“No child or young person should ever face homelessness or housing insecurity. The levels of child and youth homelessness in Northern Ireland are shameful.

I have long advocated for statutory agencies to work together, and in partnership with voluntary organisations, to deliver holistic and therapeutic services that are based on the individual needs of young people.

Robust support must be available across a wide range of areas, including independent living skills, financial capability, housing rights, employability, mental health, and life skills.”

MACS has been supporting vulnerable young people for over 30 years, working with 11 to 25-year-olds experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or the need for support in building stable, independent lives.

To find out more about the Centre for Homelessness Impact’s personalised budgets trial, visit: Homeless Impact