Homeless support workers are struggling themselves — Charity boss calls for support amid crisis

Nicola McCrudden is the chief executive of Homeless Connect. She told the Belfast Telegraph that the Covid pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and other issues have exacerbated the homelessness problem, leading to an increased need for temporary accommodation — such as hostels, B and Bs and hotels.

Figures show that, in May of this year, there were 8,500 people in temporary accommodation across Northern Ireland — an 87% increase since 2018. In addition, voluntary sector hostels are also accommodating increased numbers of people — to 85% over the same period to around 1,000 people.

“Challenges present themselves daily for those on the frontline. There are growing numbers of people with very complex needs, many of whom are in desperate need of mental health and addiction services,” Nicola told the Belfast Telegraph.

“Staff in the homelessness sector are incredible people doing incredible work. Along with our NHS staff, throughout the pandemic homelessness staff worked to keep people safe, and to keep people alive. And they still do today - this is part and parcel of their work.

“But it hasn’t been easy, and many are struggling themselves, fatigued as we lurch into a new crisis — the cost of living. Most frontline staff are low paid, although highly skilled workers, and they are finding it hard to make ends meet. They are overstretched due to staff retention and recruitment problems in the sector.

“We as a society need to value homelessness sector workers, ensure they're recognised in terms of remuneration for the highly skilled and caring roles they perform in accommodation projects, day care facilities and street outreach.”

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Nicola McCrudden

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Nicola said it is vital there is a “major uplift" in statutory funding for the sector, and for wider relief from the effects of spiralling prices.

“There is no doubt that there needs to be a major uplift in statutory funding for the sector, and for wider relief from the effects of spiralling prices. The restoration of power-sharing at Stormont is essential to tackling the worsening cost-of-living crisis,” she said.

“Without a working Executive there can be no budget passed for the next three years, blocking the spending of hundreds of millions of pounds, some of which would be spent on relieving the current pressure on services, as well as preventing more individuals and households falling into homelessness.

“The homelessness sector is key to our society weathering the current crisis, and its resilience cannot be taken for granted. A sudden collapse in the provision of services would be catastrophic and must be avoided at all costs.”

Official figures show that, as of the end of March this year, there were a total of 44,426 applicants on the housing waiting list here.

In 2013, there were 12,431 applicants on the waiting list classified as ‘full-duty applicants’ This means they are classified as homeless and in priority need of housing. By the end of March this year, this figure had increased to 23,978 — a rise of almost 93%. Of this total, almost 3,000 applicants were elderly.