Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Robbie Butler have visited the first homes delivered through New Foundations, a programme intended to prevent homelessness among young people leaving care.

During their visit to Londonderry, the ministers met Kevin Johnson, who described how the initiative had given him stability, support and opportunities for the future.

After visiting Kevin at home, Lyons said: "Meeting Kevin, hearing his story and seeing the progress he has made since moving into his new home was both inspiring and hugely encouraging. His experience shows the life-changing difference that a safe place to call home and the right support, at the right time, can make.

"The New Foundations programme is about giving young people leaving care the stability, confidence and practical support they need to live independently. Through accommodation and wraparound support, it is helping them realise their potential and look to the future with confidence.

"The positive impact it has had on Kevin's life reinforces my commitment to supporting the continued roll-out of New Foundations, in partnership with the Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, so that more young people can benefit from the same opportunities and support.

"New Foundations shows the value of making effective prevention a more systematic part of how we address homelessness. That is why I recently signalled my intention to establish a Homelessness Commission to consider how successful and transformative initiatives like this can be embedded more widely across our system."

Butler said: "I welcomed the opportunity to meet Kevin and I thank him for sharing his experiences with us. Having a secure place to call home is fundamental to our wellbeing. This accommodation demonstrates what can be achieved when government and statutory partners work together to create not only homes, but opportunities for young people to thrive. "We know that care-experienced young people can face challenges as they transition to adulthood. What makes New Foundations particularly important is that it is a genuine systems change programme which recognises that homelessness among care-experienced young people is not inevitable. It is therefore especially fitting that the Department of Health and the Department for Communities have come together to lead this programme. We are taking a shared responsibility for improving outcomes, bringing together housing, health, social care and community services around a common purpose."

Kevin, who moved into his accommodation during the summer, said the home had helped him become more confident and independent.

He said: "Having a safe place to call home has been like the beginning of a new life for me. The New Foundations programme has given me stability, helped me grow in confidence and allowed me to look to the future with hope. Knowing that more young people will have the chance to access the same support is really encouraging, and I hope it will make as much of a difference to their lives as it has to mine."

The Londonderry accommodation, funded through New Foundations and extensively refurbished by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, comprises four self-contained flats and a small shared courtyard designed to support independent living.

Housing Executive vice-chair John McMullan said: "A permanent home provides more than a roof over someone's head. It gives young people a secure foundation from which to build their independence, pursue education, training or employment, and plan for their future. New Foundations reflects our commitment to preventing homelessness before it occurs, ensuring young people leaving care have access to safe, secure accommodation and the support needed to thrive in their communities

"By working with others, we are bringing together housing and tailored support to help young people make the transition from care to independent living. These first homes are an important step towards providing that opportunity to more young people through the continued roll-out of New Foundations."

An estimated 120 to 140 young people who have recently aged out of care present as homeless each year. Care leavers are 17 times more likely to experience homelessness than young people without a social care history.

Launched in December 2025, New Foundations is a collaboration between government departments, health trusts and the Housing Executive. It aims to provide 30 homes by the end of the 2026/27 financial year and up to 100 homes with tailored support by March 2029. The Department for Communities has allocated £9.4 million to the Housing Executive for acquisitions; each home will be owned by the Housing Executive and allocated as a permanent social home.