A £150,000 "goodwill grant" has been allocated by Communities Minister Gordon to help bring festive cheer to individuals experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
The funding will be distributed by the charity Homeless Connect to homelessness service providers, supporting seasonal meals, small gifts, and social events such as Christmas dinners.
Minister Gordon announced the grant during Homelessness Awareness Week, stating:
"I am pleased that during Homelessness Awareness Week I can announce this goodwill grant of £150,000. I hope the grant ensures that those experiencing homelessness can have a more enjoyable and positive Christmas.
"Earlier this week, I made a series of significant funding and support announcements in the Assembly to address the broader issue of homelessness. Alongside those measures, this is a small but significant effort to bring some festive cheer into the lives of people who might otherwise go without during the Christmas period."
Nicole Lappin, chair of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, emphasized the ongoing efforts to address homelessness:
"The Housing Executive continues to work with statutory, voluntary and grassroots organisations to address a problem which touches many communities and many lives here. We share the Minister's ambition to reduce homelessness, and want to highlight that help is available – at Christmas time and throughout the year – for those facing crisis."
Homelessness Awareness Week has been marked by various social, educational, and awareness-raising events. McCrudden stressed the importance of collaboration, noting that meaningful change requires collective efforts:
"During Homelessness Awareness Week, a range of social, educational and awareness-raising events are taking place to highlight the reality of homelessness in our society.
This is Homelessness Awareness Week and the theme, Time for Change, reflects a growing consensus that homelessness is not inevitable and is solvable. Achieving change however requires all of us to consider what we can do differently. At Homeless Connect, we believe in collaboration and we have seen the results when people and groups come together to bring about change”.
This grant represents a heartfelt effort to support vulnerable individuals during the holiday season while reinforcing the broader commitment to tackling homelessness year-round.