Minority Groups

Involving easy to ignore groups in housing policy and strategy in NI

24 June 2015

Dr Jenny Muir is a Lecturer in the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen's University Belfast. Below she introduces findings from her latest research on involving easy to ignore groups , carried out with funding provided by Housing Rights.

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Minority Groups, Research, Policy

Housing and welfare in the Queen's speech

28 May 2015

Yesterday's Queen's speech detailed the new Conservative majority government's proposed legislative programme for parliament. The speech referred to a number of significant changes which will impact on housing and welfare law, policy and practice.

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Benefits, Minority Groups, Welfare Reform, Policy, Landlord

Beyond the Gate: Helping vulnerable prisoners to resettle in the community

25 March 2015

Housing Rights is piloting a new service that aims to prevent homelessness amongst people leaving prison by continuing to support these people beyond the prison gates. We are very grateful to the NI Housing Executive for providing us with the funding to run this service, known as “Beyond the Gate”.

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Minority Groups, Homelessness

ADVISER: Migrant rights to housing benefit when receiving JSA

26 November 2014

Hector contacted Housing Rights Service for help back in July.

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Benefits, Minority Groups, Adviser

Social Security legislation update

11 November 2014

Housing and welfare practitioners should note the following changes to social security legislation and update their resources accordingly.

Habitual residence

There have been many recent changes to the rules around habitual residence recently. Currently, only people who have been living in the Common Travel Area for at least 3 months can make a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

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Benefits, Minority Groups, Welfare Reform, Legal

Inside Out: Housing Offenders

24 October 2014

A safe and secure home is fundamental in helping offenders make a positive contribution to society. But often ex offenders and those charged with criminal activity will face many housing difficulties.

Whether your client has been released on bail, held on remand or released after serving a sentence, they may come to you with worries about

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Minority Groups, Practical tips, Homelessness

Briefing on restrictions on migrants accessing benefits

9 September 2014

The House of Commons Library has issued a useful briefing, summarising recent and proposed changes to migrants’ rights to access welfare benefits

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Benefits, Minority Groups

Landlords in East Midlands to check immigration status from December

4 September 2014

Private landlords in the East Midlands will face fines of £3,000 if they fail to check their tenants immigration status and ensure they have the right to rent in the UK.

The first phase of this scheme will be launched on the 1st of December and will run in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Landlords in these places will be required to check the immigration status of adults entering a new tenancy.

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Minority Groups, Private Tenancies, Landlord

ADVISER: Understanding the housing rights of migrants in Northern Ireland

28 August 2014

Advising on the rights of people who come from outside the UK or Ireland can be difficult, particularly in light of all the recent legislative changes in this area. But, understanding these rights is crucial, given how frequently we’re now being asked to help with cases on eligibility.