Intimidation and rehousing

Recent press reports focused on news that nearly 1,300 incidents of paramilitaries forcing people from their homes have been reported in Northern Ireland in the past three years. Ursula Toner, Advice Services Manager with Housing Rights, looks at just one of these cases and reminds advisers of the need to advocate for suitable temporary accommodation where someone cannot safely live in their own home. 

Marie owned her own home in the Coleraine area. Marie has a teenage son and daughter and they had lived happily in the home for over 15 years. Last year they started to experience sectarian intimidation.  Although the problems initially appeared to be low level, they quickly escalated to the point that Marie and her children no longer felt safe in their home.

Family made homeless due to intimidation

Marie had reported each of the incidents to the PSNI and the Housing Executive.  The Housing Executive accepted that it was unreasonable for Marie and her family to remain in the property because of the abuse they were subject to and Marie was awarded Full Duty Applicant status. The Housing Executive offered to provide Marie and her family with temporary accommodation in a local hotel but this was only available for a short period and the family had to return to the family home.

Marie contacted Housing Rights because she didn’t feel safe staying in her old home but wasn’t sure what her other options were.  Marie owned her home but owed more on the mortgage than she’d get if she sold the property.   Initially we offered to help Marie negotiate with her lender to get allow her to sell the property at a loss.  While we were helping with this, the attacks on Marie’s home continued.  While speaking with Marie our adviser realised that the family could not continue to put up with the intolerable abuse. They urgently needed temporary housing.

Importance of finding suitable temporary accommodation

We contacted the Housing Executive and raised concerns regarding the family’s situation, explaining just how dire the abuse was and how urgently the family needed to get out of the area.  The Housing Executive acknowledged that it had a duty to provide temporary housing for the family and renewed its efforts to source suitable temporary accommodation for Marie and her children.  Happily, the family was soon offered ‘single-let' accommodation in an area that was suitable for them.  Single-let accommodation is the term used for private housing that the Housing Executive rents from landlords to use as temporary accommodation.  It is an option that was particularly suited to Marie’s needs as this type of housing is often much more affordable than hostel accommodation.  Marie was not eligible for housing benefit, so would have had serious difficulties paying the family’s bill for living in a supported hostel.

Further help for intimidated households; intimidation points and SPED

Housing Rights also contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland again to find out more about their investigation into the prolonged sectarian intimidation experienced by Marie and her family.  We hope that the PSNI will look at the case again and that a new police report confirming the severity of these attacks will result in Marie being granted intimidation points.  This will greatly improve Marie’s changes of getting an offer of permanent housing and may mean that she can sell her property using the Scheme for the Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings.    Selling her home under this scheme would alleviate considerable stress and worry for Marie. Any shortfall between the selling price and the mortgage balance could be negotiated with the lender as part of the process.

Intimidation is a frightening and isolating experiencing and it is important that advisers understand the importance of sourcing suitable temporary accommodation where someone cannot safely stay in their home.   Advisers who wish to hone their skills in helping people with housing problems should check out our upcoming training courses.  Discounts are available for organisations which are members of Housing Rights.