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Northern Ireland government to pay £500 bonus to homelessness and supported housing workers
Northern Ireland’s government will pay homelessness and supported housing workers special payments of up to £500 in recognition of their work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Between 4,000 and 4,500 people are expected to benefit from the £3.5m scheme, with homelessness sector staff and those employed through the Supporting People (SP) programme eligible.
The £72.8m SP programme is used to fund housing-related support services for up to 19,000 homeless and vulnerable people across Northern Ireland a year, mainly provided by charities and housing associations.
Communities minister Deirdre Hargey said: “I am developing a scheme that ensures SP staff receive a recognition payment of up to £500 for their part in delivering critical services over the past year, including supporting homeless people, older people, young people, those with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and those with mental health issues.
“Staff employed through the programme have faced many challenges throughout this pandemic, and will most likely continue to do so for some time to come.
“They deserve to be recognised for their hard work in supporting vulnerable people in the same as health and social care staff have been.”
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SP services often include helping people to live independently through assistance in developing domestic and social skills or accessing suitable accommodation and other services.
Many are jointly funded through health and social care trusts and aim to prevent issues that could lead to homelessness, hospitalisation or institutional care.
The announcement comes after the Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland (CHNI), the representative body for the homelessness sector in the region, wrote to the minister in March asking for a recognition payment for workers.
Nicola McCrudden, chief executive of CHNI, said: “We are very pleased with this announcement. Staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep people safe and supported in temporary accommodation as well as providing vital outreach services in our towns and cities.
“This payment gives recognition to the incredible work undertaken by staff and is well deserved.”
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