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Homelessness advice: For professionals

Comprehensive information on the homeless application process and support for people facing homelessness in Northern Ireland.

In this section

Emergency help for homelessness

Find out what emergency accommodation is available in Northern Ireland and how to access it. 

Responsibility for homelessness

The government department responsible for housing and homelessness is the Department for Communities.

Applying for help as a homeless person

Not everyone is entitled to a homelessness assessment. But the Housing Executive is expected to make inquiries if they have reason to believe that a person is homeless or threatened with homelessness.

Homelessness test

An applicant is homeless if they have no accommodation, they have to leave their accommodation within 28 days or it would not be reasonable for them to stay in their accommodation.

Eligibility test

There are two different tests (sometimes called ‘assessments’) the Housing Executive uses to determine if an applicant is eligible for assistance. 

 

Habitual residence

A person who applies for housing or homelessness assistance must be habitually resident in the common travel area.

Eligibility of British and Irish citizens

The UK has six types of British nationality. It is important to know which type a person holds and whether they are a British citizen.

Eligibility of European Economic Area nationals

A European Economic Area (EEA) citizen who entered the UK after 31 December 2020 can stay for up to six months as a visitor.

Eligibility of other nationalities

Eligibility on grounds of behaviour

Priority need test

Certain people in vulnerable circumstances have 'priority need'. The Housing Executive assess each person's circumstances as part of a homelessness assessment.  

Restricted cases

A restricted case is one where a household’s homelessness or priority need status comes from a restricted person in the household.

Intentionally homeless test

The Housing Executive does not have a duty to provide accommodation to someone who is intentionally homeless.

Temporary accommodation

The Housing Executive has a duty to provide temporary or interim accommodation to people who meet certain criteria.

Additional duties to homeless persons

The Housing Executive has further duties to people who pass all four homelessness tests.

Review of a homeless decision

An applicant has a legal right to request a review of certain decisions the Housing Executive makes about homelessness.

Discharging the full duty to accommodate

The Housing Executive has a duty to ‘secure that accommodation becomes available’ for a person who passes all four homelessness tests.

Homelessness help for young people

Social services and the Housing Executive should work together when a person aged 16 or 17 presents as homeless. 

Helping a destitute person with homelessness

A vulnerable person who is destitute should contact the Housing Executive for help.