20/08/2025
£2.5m Funding Boost To Help Tackle Homelessness
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced an additional £2.5 million in funding for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to boost homeless prevention services.
The announcement was made during a visit to the final training session for the Northern Ireland teams competing in the Homeless World Cup in Oslo at the end of August. The Minister praised the work of Street NI, a local charity that positively impacts disadvantaged groups through football.
Minister Lyons said his ambition is the prevention of homelessness and noted that charities like Street NI are key to this goal.
"This additional funding will continue to encourage new thinking in our approach to homelessness and further support NIHE's partners in delivering critical services for people who are homeless," he added.
Justin McMinn, CEO and co-founder of Street Soccer Northern Ireland, said the tournament offers a life-changing opportunity for the players.
Louise McConnell, a former player and now a coach mentor, highlighted the positive impact the charity has had on her own life, saying she now wants to help the charity "make a difference to others."
The new funding package is intended to support the NIHE's partners in their work to deliver critical services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The announcement was made during a visit to the final training session for the Northern Ireland teams competing in the Homeless World Cup in Oslo at the end of August. The Minister praised the work of Street NI, a local charity that positively impacts disadvantaged groups through football.
Minister Lyons said his ambition is the prevention of homelessness and noted that charities like Street NI are key to this goal.
"This additional funding will continue to encourage new thinking in our approach to homelessness and further support NIHE's partners in delivering critical services for people who are homeless," he added.
Justin McMinn, CEO and co-founder of Street Soccer Northern Ireland, said the tournament offers a life-changing opportunity for the players.
Louise McConnell, a former player and now a coach mentor, highlighted the positive impact the charity has had on her own life, saying she now wants to help the charity "make a difference to others."
The new funding package is intended to support the NIHE's partners in their work to deliver critical services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.