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The Department for Social Development’s review of the Fitness Standard is currently underway. The Department is seeking views on what should be included within a revised standard, how a revised standard may be enforced and how the enforcement arrangements will be conducted going forward.
With the upcoming 2016 Assembly Election, we take a look at the housing pledges in party manifestos.
Housing Rights believes prevention of homelessness is the best cure. We feel strongly that the Executive must ensure that advice and support is available at the right time, to help people remain in their homes. It is encouraging that the need for this support is recognised by many of the parties in their #AE16 comments on housing.
When Brian first spoke to Housing Rights, he was living in a private tenancy and his only income was carer’s allowance. He was in arrears with his rent and at risk of eviction by his landlord. At this stage, Brian was not entitled to Housing Benefit, but our adviser agreed to take on his case and look into how she could help him.
The UK Supreme Court recently considered issues around eligibility of certain foreign nationals for certain benefits and housing assistance.
In Samin v Westminster City Council [2016] UKSC 1 the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which sought to incorporate a proportionality requirement into the statutory test for eligibility, and to argue that the test itself was discriminatory under EU law.
Ciara Duffy is a Resettlement Officer, with North West Methodist Mission. She recently attended out Housing Advice Training Programme in Derry/Londonderry. Here, she explains how undertaking the 4 day course has helped her do her job.
Each April, the Government introduces a number of changes to social security benefits. We recently updated Housing Law in Practice NI with these changes:
The Office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman was established on 1 April 2016. This new office replaces the former offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Complaints.
Housing Rights is pleased to join with the Council for the Homeless, the Chartered Institute of Housing NI and the NI Federation for Housing Associations to convene a Housing and Homelessness Hustings on Friday 15 April from 14:00 to 16:00 at the Girdwood Community Hub in north Belfast, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast, Antrim BT14 6EG.
