§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what appropriate emergency accommodation for the single homeless is currently available to accept references from each of the health and social service boards in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 March 1988]: The information requested is:
Number of places Board run Voluntary Eastern Health and Social Services Board 74 20 Northern Health and Social Services Board — — Southern Health and Social Services Board — 16 Western Health and Social Services Board — 66 TOTAL 74 102 Notes:
These figures exclude places in common lodging houses and in voluntary hostels whose main functions is to provide long-stay accommodation, but where accommodation may be available in an emergency.Single homeless persons may also be placed in:accommodation provided by Boards for other purposes, eg homes for the elderly;temporary accommodation normally reserved for families; private boarding houses;other non-commercial accommodation (eg church premises) which may be used to respond to disasters which cause homelessness on a large scale.
§ Mr. HumeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement detailing the grants made in 1986–87 by Government Departments and the area boards to voluntary organisations providing240W accommodation for (a) the single homeless, (b) battered women and their families, (c) homeless families, and (d) ex-offenders.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 24 March 1988]: In 1986–87 the Department of Health and Social Services and the four health and social services boards paid grants as follows to voluntary organisations providing accommodation for homeless people:
Mainly single persons Mainly battered women and their families £ £ DHSS Simon Community Northern Ireland 17,463 — Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation — 33,350 Open Door Resettlement Project 21,510 — Northern board Coleraine Women's Aid — 14,169 Southern board Craigavon Women's Refuge — 4,000 Edward Street Hostel 6,000 — Eastern board Belfast Women's Aid — 59,777 Extern 24,000 — Simon Community Northern Ireland 37,250 — Sydenham House Committee — 7,000 Western board Clarendon Night Shelter — 33,284 Derry Women's Aid — 27,905 Omagh Women's Aid — 2,860 The House, St. Columb's Well 8,500 — It is normal practice for homeless families to be accommodated temporarily in facilities managed by health and social services boards, where accommodation is available, or in boarding houses, with whom standing arrangements have been made in advance.
In addition, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland paid the following grants in 1986–87 to voluntary organisations providing accommodation for ex-offenders:
£ Extern: "109" Hostel 57,000 Settle Scheme 18,000 Ormeau Centre 8,000 Castlereagh St. Hostel 3,000 Thompson House 56,000 Dismas House 22,000