§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average length of stay for single occupants of hostel accommodation funded by the DHSS in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. AtkinsWhile the Department of Health and Social Services provides housing benefit assistance to many hostel residents, it does not fund hostel accommodation in Northern Ireland.
This is, instead, a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I have been advised by the chairman that although an average figure based on the length of stay of all single persons on hostel accommodation is not readily available, it is estimated that single persons who have been accepted as homeless and in priority need under the terms of the Housing (NI) Order 1988, and placed in hostel accommodation by the Executive, spend an average of 8.6 weeks there before being permanently rehoused.