Homeless? Experiencing housing difficulties? click here for information

Click here to download booking form for CHNI Charity Cup

download part one

download part two

CHNI are pleased to announce the publication of 'Nutrition for substance users: a step by step workbook'

(Due to size of document, links are provided in two parts, see under lefthand side image to download).

About this workbook

This workbook has been compiled for us by Chris Rintoul, Grainne McMacken, Sinead Devine, and Stephen Patterson, with support from CHNI, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust’s Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service, and The Salvation Army NI. The booklet is funded by the Public Health Agency.

This workbook aims to help people who use alcohol or drugs to think about the importance of eating well and find ways to achieve a more balanced diet, and is aimed at people who are ready to think about changing how they eat to help improve their health or wellbeing. Although envisaged as a ‘self-help’ booklet, it can be completed with the assistance and support of family, friends, or professionals who may work closely with the target audience.

requesting copies

Please note the attached copy is for inforamtion only - should you require copies of the booklet for your project(s), please contact Chris (chris.rintoul@chni.org.uk) or kathy (kathy.henry@chni.org.uk) to discuss availability / arrange to receive these.

Due to funding requirements, priority will be given to organisations in the Eastern Health area.

click here to view youtube trailer for the festival

Click here to visit QFT site

The Homeless Film Festival is a Donkey Stone Films project to establish a strong link between one of the world’s most successful growth industries and one of the world’s growing social issues, namely, using the film industry as a means for homeless people to move forward with their lives and away from poverty. The Homeless Film Festival 2012 is a touring festival, aimed at screening some of the world’s best homeless related films ever made.

Queen's film Theatre will host three screenings this week.

Cathy Come Home: TUES 17 APR, 6.40PM

A landmark in British television history, Ken Loach’s 1966 television drama had an impact like virtually no other broadcast before it. It brought the difficult subjects it broached into the average household’s living room, causing a public outcry and raising awareness of the work of charities and shelters around the country. Rarely shown in public, this is an opportunity to watch a true classic on the big screen.

Adam & Paul: WED 18 APR, 6.40PM

Introduction by the film’s director, Lenny Abrahamson, and Jamie Rhodes, Manager of the Homeless Film Festival, followed by Q&A.

Friends since they were small boys, Adam and Paul – and we never learn which is which – have withered into two hapless, desperate Dublin junkies, tied together by habit and necessity. A stylised, downbeat comedy, the film follows the pair through a single day, which, like every other, is entirely devoted to the business of scrounging and robbing money for drugs.

Dark Days: THURS 19 APR, 6.40PM

Three Sundance Film Festival Awards, Best Documentary at the LA Film Critics Association Awards and recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature speak volumes for this masterful 2000 documentary from British director Marc Singer. The film follows a group of people living in Freedom Tunnel – an abandoned section of the New York City underground railway system – and was made with the assistance of the film’s subjects themselves. Featuring original music by DJ Shadow.

For more information, see links under image left or email: b.phipps@qub.ac.uk.

recent news

CRISPP Seminars

CHNI Charity Cup - registration

All Party Groups on disability highlight impact of Welfare Reform proposals

facilities for hire - CHNI facilities for meeting and training events

Homelessness Awareness Week review 2011

European Parliament Adopts Resolution on EU Homelessness Strategy

Toolkit: Providing and Managing Housing Services for Homeless People

CRISPP (the Committee Representing Independent Supporting People Providers) are hosting a series of one day seminars around the three key SP thematic client group areas - Older people; ‘Bamford’ related groups; and Homelessness.

The seminars will cover:

• The direction of relevant strategies
• Supporting People plans for 2012-13
• DSD Supporting People update
• Impact of Welfare Reform

Relevant workshops.

• 24th April: ‘Bamford’ groups – Tullyglass Hotel, Ballymena
• 3rd May: Older People – Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim
  

NB Please note that seminars dates and venues are subject to change. In the eventuality of such a change, CHNI will endeavour to amend this information as soon as possible.

Copies of the Homelessness event presentations are now available to download from the SP website.

For further information contact:
Majella Quigley, Tel: 028 71 366363, or email here.

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CHNI, in conjunction with Lisburn City Council, are proud to present the fifth CHNI Charity Cup, a 5-a-side football tournament.
 
This tournament was scheduled for Homelessness Awareness Week in November 2011, but was postponed due to scheduled work on the pitches at the venue.

Like previous years, the competition is open to all residents / staff of temporary accommodation projects, and those working in the wider field, male and female. A mix in team members (staff / residents; male / female) is always welcomed! 

Whilst we welcome applications from all sections of the sector, and multiple applications from particular projects / individual organisations, we will, as usual, give preference to those teams consisting of homelessness service users / service providers, and where demand is great, we will ask those with multiple applications to register one team only. Also, within these provisos, applications will be treated on first come first serve until quota is met.
 
Booking form (pdf) 

Alternatively, (or should the link be inoperative) contact: George Quinn, info@chni.org.uk. Tel: 90246440

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For the first time, All-Party Groups on Learning Disability, Visual Impairments and Disability have held a joint meeting to discuss the impact of Welfare Reform on people with disabilities living in Northern Ireland. The 29 November meeting gave MLAs Patsy McGlone SDLP, Jim Wells DUP, Mark Durkan SDLP and Chris Lyttle Alliance the chance to hear the views of people with a disability, family carers and representatives from the disability sector on the impact of welfare reform.

Speakers with MLA's: (L-R) Laura Niwa - Law Centre, Ricky Rowledge - Director of Council for the Homeless NI, Mark Durkan SDLP, Harry Reid - RNIB, Patsy McGlone SDLP, Rebecca Shea - Mencap, Paul Magown - Mencap, Kevin Doherty - Disability Action, Alasdair McDonnell SDLP. photo: MENCAP

The groups expressed concerns about changes to Housing Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and other benefits and highlighted the need for proper parliamentary scrutiny by the Northern Ireland Assembly when the proposals come to Northern Ireland in 2012. Presentations were given by Paul McGowan of Mencap, Ricky Rowledge, Director of Council for the Homeless NI, Laura Niwa from Law Centre, Kevin Doherty from Disability Action and Harry Reid from Royal National Institute for the Blind.text: Frontline 82 (Law Centre NI)

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Pressure on space for meetings and for training purposes is high in most busy organisations these days. Yours may be no exception.

If this is the case, then CHNI has facilities for hire that will be the perfect solution. Click here

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On the 14th September 2011, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution calling for an EU homelessness strategy.  
 
With this Resolution (B7-0475/2011), adopted by a large majority, the European Parliament sends out a strong political message that homelessness is an urgent issue, on which the EU must step up its co-ordination and support of Member States’ policies. This requires building on previous work at EU-level in order to deliver an ambitious, integrated European homelessness strategy that can make concrete progress in the fight against homelessness.
 
For more, please see FEANTSA 's (European Federation of National Organisations Working with Homeless People) press release (pdf).

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This FEANTSA  (European Federation of National Organisations Working with Homeless People) publication was released in September 2011.

This toolkit was drafted by Donal McManus, Executive Director, Irish Council for Social Housing in co-operation with the FEANTSA office and the members of the FEANTSA Housing Working Group.

The toolkit is primarily aimed at housing practitioners who provide/wish to provide housing to formerly homeless people. It is also targeted at social service providers who work in partnership with housing providers to support homeless people in moving onto, and sustaining their housing. Its contents may also be useful for housing practitioners working with vulnerable groups more broadly, particularly those with ongoing support needs.

View here (pdf).

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This page will list a range of support and advice organisations who you should contact, or who can offer you support if you find yourself homeless or threatened with homelessness. Click on the link to go to the relevant sections.

If you are currently experiencing housing difficulties or are homeless, there are a number of options open to you:

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).

If you think you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless you should contact the NIHE as soon as possible on 03448 920 900.

Homelessness is dealt with through NIHE Area Offices, or in the case of Belfast through its dedicated Homelessness Services Unit (HSU).

• Find your local NIHE office - http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/yn_home/your_nearest/area_office.htm
• More about the HSU - http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/yn_home/your_nearest/homelessness_services_unit.htm

out of hours

If you need to talk to someone outside office hours there's a useful list of contact numbers on the NIHE site: http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/contact_us_home/out_of_hours.htm

If you become homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless on the 13th July, you should telephone 028 9024 6111 for all areas in Northern Ireland.

After 5pm, Homelessness assistance may be accessed through the after hours service as detailed above.

• Inner Belfast, Greater Belfast, North, Mid and East Down areas 028 9056 544
• Newry and Mourne 028 3083 5000
• Armagh & Dungannon 028 3752 2381
• Banbridge & Craigavon, 028 3833 4444
• Fermanagh 028 6638 2000
• South Tyrone 028 8772 2821
• Magherafelt/Cookstown 028 9446 8833
• Omagh 028 8283 3100
• Londonderry,Limavady, Strabane 028 7134 5171
• Antrim and East L/Derry 028 9446 8833

Am I homeless?

If you are unsure whether you are homeless or not / eligible for support, see the following sources of information:

• NIHE "Are You Homeless?"  - http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/yh-home/homelessness-4/are_you_homeless.htm
• Housing Rights Service - Housing advice NI site: http://www.housingadviceni.org/homelessness.html

Also see our publication about how the NIHE make homelessness decisions.

There are a number of self-referral Accommodation and Support services available that you can contact directly. The immediate help these accommodation providers will be able to provide will vary depending on vacancies.  

To access contact details, visit Homelessni online directory

Homeless Northern Ireland gives up to date information about 400 hostels, advice and support services. To download a document (PDF) with instructions how to use the site, click here

If you require housing advice related to renting accommodation, debt, or threat of homelessness, contact Housing Rights Service. 

You can contact Housing Rights Service on 028 90245640 for free, independent housing advice Monday to Friday. If you need advice on homelessness, repairs or renting a home, call between 09.30 and 13.30.  If you need advice on mortgage or rent arrears, call between 09.30 and 17.00.

To visit Housing Advice NI, click here. This site provides free, reliable and practical information on housing and homelessness issues with pages specifically produced for young people.

If you are a young person faced with housing difficulties or homelessness, please visit this link.

For further information about your rights, visit Housing Advice NI pages, click here.

remember, you can contact Housing Rights Service on 028 90245640 for free, independent housing advice Monday to Friday. If you need advice on homelessness, repairs or renting a home, call between 09.30 and 13.30.  If you need advice on mortgage or rent arrears, call between 09.30 and 17.00.

Homeless Northern Ireland is web site for professionals and members of the public alike. The site gives up to date information about 400 hostels, advice and support services. Help you need, when you need it. 

You can access Homeless NI from this site - just click on the Homeless NI tab at the top of the page or click here

To download a document (PDF) with instructions how to use the site, click here

There are a number of different categories of foreign nationals in Northern Ireland. Each of these groups will have varying rights to work and to support (including benefits and housing). It follows, that there are various sources of help and information relevant to each category of foreign national.

Laws and regulations concerning foreign nationals are complicated and it is best to get expert advice about your specific situation. This page provides links to various sources of help and information.

Individual foreign national's rights vary according to their country of origin and distinct category as a migrant worker.  

Migrant workers can be:

• EEA (European Economic Area) and Swiss nationals, A8 nationals (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia);
• A2 nationals (Romania and Bulgaria);
• Work permit holders, sector-based scheme workers, working holiday makers, highly skilled migrants (non-EU nationals); or
• Undocumented (non-UK nationals working in the UK illegally).

Your rights and entitlements in Northern Ireland will depend upon your distinct category as a migrant worker, as well as your country of origin. Contact the UK Borders Agency to find out more about migrant workers' rights in UK.

The Housing Executive has a legal duty to give housing advice and information on preventing homelessness to anyone who asks in Northern Ireland.

Laws and regulations concerning migrant workers are complicated. If you need information about your legal status or help with immigration issues, contact a qualified immigration adviser, such as the Law Centre NI. All agencies providing immigration advice should be registered with the Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC).

Useful organisations

Housing Rights Service 02890 245640 www.housingrights.org.uk
 
Housing Rights Service provide specialist independent housing advice, advocacy around general housing issues, including arrears, eviction, harassment, and homelessness. Call to arrange appointment. Helpline (on number above) operates between 9.30am - 1.30pm. 

Law Centre NI 

Belfast: 02890 279398
Derry: 02871 262433

http://www.lawcentreni.org/about-us/contact-us.html
 
Law Centre (NI) has offices in Belfast and Derry. They provide advice to clients on a referral basis: to access their advice services, you must either go through one of their member organisations or contact an independent advice centre or Citizens’ Advice Bureau who will refer you where appropriate. 

EMBRACE NI http://www.embraceni.org/

0796 992 1328

An inter-church organisation with a focus on support of foreign nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers.

NICEM http://www.nicem.org.uk/what-we-do/support-to-migrants

028 9023 8645 and 028 9031 9666

NI Council for Ethnic Minorities run advice clinics where we assist those who come for help every Thursday evening between 5.30pm and 8.00pm in the Belfast Migrant Centre, 2nd Floor, Ascot House, 24-31 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DB.

Homeplus NI

Outreach / drop-in centre  www.homeplusni.org 
 
02890 248521

Email manager@homeplusni.org
 
Drop-in day centre for foreign nationals, destitute foreign nationals and street outreach services for anyone sleeping rough in Belfast (8pm - 11pm daily). Provides meals, clothing, sleeping bags and shower facilities. Advice and assistance on completing forms for benefits, housing and employment. Daily job searches and access to emergency accommodation. Weekly nurse led health care clinic.

Address: 109 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JP.

Migrant Worker's Support Network (MWSN): http://www.mwsn.org/

Online sources of advice / useful guides

Housing Advice NI  02890 311611 http://www.housingadviceni.org/advice-for-migrant-workers.html

This website has been developed by Housing Rights Service and aims to provide reliable independent housing advice and information to the public in Northern Ireland. As well as providing general advice, the site also provides migrant workers information in several different languages.  

• Pycckий
• Slovenský
• Português 
• Lietuviu
• Polski
• English
  

Housing rights guidance also available (English): http://www.housingadviceni.org/migrant-workers-getting-advice.html

Law Centre NI - know your rights booklets available for download
Copies of ‘Your Rights in Northern Ireland: a Guide for Migrant Workers’ are available for download free of charge from the Law Centre in the following languages:

• Slovak
• Latvian
• Lithuanian
• Tetum
• Portuguese
• Polish
• Russian
• Romanian
• Chinese

To obtain a copy, click here

Immigration Advice Booklet (PDF) http://www.lawcentreni.org/Publications/Immigration%20Advice%20Booklet%202010%20web%20version.pdf

This booklet tells people where they can get immigration advice in Northern Ireland. Twenty-one languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Cantonese, Czech, Farsi, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tetum, Turkish, Urdu

A Refugee Action Group publication with important information for asylum seekers who may be detained in Northern Ireland. (The Law Centre is a member of Refugee Action Group)

Online directories

To access up to date information on advice agencies,temporary accommodation, and others who can help you,  use these online resources list.

Multi-Cultural Resource Centre list of support organisations:

page provides links to  Local Black and Minority Ethnic Community Groups, support and advice for these groups: http://www.mcrc-ni.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=4

Homeless NI - www.homelessni.org

Homeless Northern Ireland has information on over 400 services that can help homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. It includes emergency accommodation and other advice and support services. Click here for more about how to use the site. 

Electronic Immigration Network http://www.ein.org.uk/
Searchable directory of information on immigration and refugee law of the United Kingdom and Europe. http://www.ein.org.uk/experts/?q=experts

as well as any of the links / organisations above, you can contact:

Bryson One Stop Service for Asylum Seekers

Tel: (028) 9043 9226
Emergency out of hours number for claimants in need of assistance: (028) 9024 2025

http://www.mcrc-ni.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=18

A 24-hour advice and support service for refugees and people seeking asylum. Contact: Bryson One Stop Service, 9 Lower Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NR

The Refugee Action Group Immigration Detention Helpline - Tel: 0800 840 0495

A free and confidential helpline available out-of-hours for anyone who is stopped and detained by Immigration Officers in Northern Ireland. A trained volunteer will notify the detainee’s family where possible and contact an Immigration Adviser who may be able to assist the detainee in challenging his/her detention.

Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS)

Tel: 028 9024 6699 Email:  nicras@hotmail.co.uk

if you are at risk of detainment or deportation: emergency out of hours number: 0794 8727014

This community group for refugees and people seeking asylum aims to support the integration process while consciousness raising, campaigning and informing people about the legal situation. The group also organise social and fundraising events.

Contact: NICRAS, 143A University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HP

NICRAS holds a weekly lunch-time Drop In: Thursday 12.00-02.00. contact: 028 9024 6699/0794 872 7014