Housing Rights responds to draft Programme for Government Framework

Housing Rights has submitted its response to the Northern Ireland Executive’s consultation on the Draft Programme for Government Framework. Our response outlines a number of concerns we have, especially in relation to the lack of emphasis given to housing.

Flawed process for selecting outcomes

Housing Rights welcomes the broad ethos of the draft Framework, which is outcomes-focussed and aims to succeed through cross-Departmental working. In its current form, however, we are concerned that the Framework would fail to deliver its stated ambition of “improving wellbeing for all.” our response highlights concerns that the process for selecting outcomes and indicators appears flawed. We believe there is an overreliance on quantitative measures and confusion between indicators and outcomes.

Housing should have a significant role

Housing Rights is deeply concerned by the meagre reference to housing in the draft Framework, and the fact that even this reference is construed in the narrowest of terms. The Framework fails both to grasp the complexity of housing policy and practice, and to recognise the significant role which housing plays in improving wellbeing for all.

Housing is both an end in itself, and enables the achievement of other outcomes, such as those relating to health, criminal justice, or children and young people. Housing Rights recommends that the NI Executive adopt a housing-specific outcome into the Framework. Suggested wording for this outcome could be: “We have good quality, affordable homes for everyone.”

Consider additional housing indicators

Housing Rights has serious reservations about the use of the currently suggested indicator and measure for housing. The Framework should firmly recognise that Executive responsibilities towards housing are cross-tenure; more complex than simply a matter of supply; and not capable of being appropriately monitored through the proposed measure. A more realistic approach to measuring outcomes could be achieved through the use of additional housing indicators. These could relate to the prevention of homelessness, affordability, housing fitness and the reduction of housing inequalities.

Further reading

During the consultation period for the draft Framework, Housing Rights partnered with Council for the Homeless, NIFHA and CIH to host a housing-specific event on the Programme for Government. This event heard from the Executive Office’s Programme for Government team, and Aongus O’Keeffe of Inspiring Impact, before splitting into roundtable discussion.
 

 Housing Rights response to the draft Programme for Government framework