Background

Launched in 2004 The Community Housing Advice Project was established by Housing Rights Service, Citizens Advice and Advice NI to help ensure that good quality housing advice is accessible throughout Northern Ireland. In 2010 the venture was rebranded as the Community Housing Advice Partnership.

Aim of the project

The project aims to increase the capacity of information and advice providers throughout Northern Ireland to provide quality housing advice services for people in their local communities who are threatened with homelessness or experiencing housing need.  The project is managed by Housing Rights Service and is funded by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive

The project currently has partnership agreements with 22 frontline advice agencies; 12 citizens advice bureau and 12 independent agencies.

Key Achievements for 2011/12

• A further 10 advisers, working in our partner agencies completed our accredited Housing Advice Training Programme this year. This means that CHAP has now provided this training course to 72 staff in partner agencies. As a result there has been an increase in the competence and confidence of staff and volunteers when dealing with housing issues.
• Staff at partner agencies dealt with over 23,000 housing issues in 2011/2012. The breadth and complexity of these issues has also increased.
• Almost 86% of clients reported positive housing and related outcomes as a result of their involvement with CHAP.
• Training was also provided to partner agency staff on housing debt and preventing homelessness as a result of housing debt.
• 3 Legal Information Guides provided to every partner agency on:
  i) Private Tenancies Order – 2^nd Edition
  ii) Forbearance Guide (New Nov 2011)
  iii) Welfare Reform (New March 2012)

For further information on the Community Housing Advice Partnership contact Advice Services Manager, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .