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EU-backed Housing Associations Integration Project for Northern Irish border launched
A new initiative aimed at promoting relations between housing association residents in Northern Ireland and the Irish border region has been launched with funding from the EU.
More than 1,000 tenants across 40 estates will take part in the Housing Associations Integration Project (HAIP).
It is paid for through €1.1m (£925,000) from the EU’s Peace IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding from the Northern Ireland Executive Office and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
The HAIP will organise a series of events and training days bringing together social housing residents from different backgrounds in a bid to improve relations across cultures and religious groups.
Northern Ireland’s four largest housing associations – Radius, Choice, Clanmil and Apex – as well as the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, the Irish Council for Social Housing and TIDES Training are organising the project in partnership.
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Richard Mealey, project coordinator of the HAIP, said: “The Housing Associations Integration Project aims to support the development of cohesive communities, where residents respect diversity and recognise the value of differing viewpoints in a multicultural society.
“The cross-border dimension of the project is unique, and we look forward to working with the project delivery team in the coming months.”
The project will run until August 2020 over five stages, beginning with community audits of the participating schemes.
It will focus on smaller, newer developments in areas with weak community infrastructure and a mixture of nationalities and religions.
Gina McIntyre, chief executive of the SEUPB, said: “The EU’s Peace IV Programme has been designed to encourage positive relationships between people from all communities.
“Unfortunately this region has been left with deeply engrained issues associated with social segregation, as a result of the troubles/conflict.
“By improving cross-community relations in up to 40 different social housing areas across Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland this innovative project will help to reinforce peace and stability.”
