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How is our work influencing life in Northern Ireland and delivering equality? Learn more about our policy, legal and research work.
 
 

Housing policy priorities and recommendations

Housing and communities in NI
Communities (inc. housing)

What you need to know

Consultation responses

 

Housing and communities: policy priorities and recommendations


Housing is a basic human need and provides a foundation for family and community life.  Good quality, affordable housing in safe, sustainable communities is essential to ensuring health, well-being and a prosperous society.

The Commission is mindful of the complex relationships that exist between housing and other domains.  Addressing key inequalities will not only require work across a range of Departments, agencies and functions of government, but also by organisations who have responsibilities for, or an interest in, housing and communities in Northern Ireland.  Whilst we both recognise and welcome progress that has been made, it is clear that challenges remain.

 


Priority areas for intervention 

The Commission considers, following engagement with stakeholders and wider consideration, that there are immediate opportunities and/or a particular pressing need to secure change in relation to:

Advancing sharing in housing while ensuring objectively assessed need is met

Infographic: Advance sharing in housing, while ensuring that objectively assessed housing need is met
 

Advance sharing in housing, while ensuring that objectively assessed housing need is met
 
 

Addressing the longer social housing waiting list for Catholic households

Infographic: Addressing the longer social housing waiting list for Catholic households
 

Address the longer waiting-list times for social housing experienced by households with a Catholic religion household reference person
 
 

The provision of disability related accommodation

Infographic: Ensure the provision of easy to access and affordable services across all tenures
 

Ensure application of accessible housing standards to all new builds

Provide information regarding the availability of accessible accommodation


Ensure the provision of easy to access and affordable adaptation services across all tenures - including by streamlining existing processes and reducing waiting times  


Extend the Disability Discrimination Act to include reasonable adjustments to communal areas in residential properties


Ensure access to adequate, sustainable and long-term independent living provision for all people with disabilities for whom it is a viable housing option   


 
 

Tackling the under-reporting of hate incidents and crimes and increase outcome rates

Infographic: Tackling the under-reporting of hate incidents and crimes and increase outcome rates
 

Advance sharing in housing, while ensuring that objectively assessed housing need is met
 

 
 

Also see our overarching areas for action. While the Commission will work to encourage prompt action to address the above, we also encourage action by stakeholders and government to advance our full range of recommendations, with a particular focus on tackling the inequalities identified in our Statement on Key Inequalities in Housing and Communities which under pinned these policy recommendations.  

Download
Further information about the Commission’s priorities and recommendations is available in the following publications:

 


Additional information 
View our Real Stories – real life stories which tell us about personal experiences, good and bad of finding and keeping a home in NI.  

Contact us

If you would like to know more about this area of our work further, please email: publicpolicy@equalityni.org


 

< Housing & Communities
< Addressing Inequality

 

 

How have we advised Government on policy issues?

The Commission seeks to shape public policy through a range of channels, including by responding to public consultations.  We are frequently asked to consider and comment on government policy and strategy documents on our areas of expertise.

Here are our most recent responses to consultations on housing and communities:

Consultation responses

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) seeks to shape public policy through a range of channels. Responding to public consultations is an important part of this work.
 

< Housing Policy Priorities
 
 

 
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