Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for Communities, in light of recent figures from the Simon Community showing that over 62,000 people are officially homeless across Northern Ireland, including over 1,600 people in Mid Ulster, to detail any discussions he has had with Executive colleagues regarding cross-departmental collaboration, to prevent and end homelessness. [Priority Written]
Minister for Communities: I regularly engage with Executive colleagues and stress the need for greater collaboration to prevent homelessness. Prevention and intervention to reduce housing stress and prioritise housing solutions for those most in need is a key objective within the Housing Supply Strategy I brought to the Executive.
Along with the Minister for Health I have also launched the New Foundations project to help prevent young people leaving care entering homelessness.
My Department will continue to work closely with partners across the Executive to explore opportunities for meaningful joint working and to ensure greater collaboration and engagement at a strategic level to prevent homelessness and improve outcomes for people.
ENDS
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