To ask the Minister for Communities what work his Department is (i) undertaking; and (ii) planning to undertake to provide suitable and affordable accommodation for those transitioning from care to independent living.

The Department funds the Supporting People Programme, protecting its annual budget of £72.8 million, for the commissioning by the NIHE of the provision of housing support services to enable vulnerable people to live as independently as possible in the community. The governance and oversight of the commissioned services sits with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

The NI Executive has agreed the 2024/25 Budget, now I will consider how best to allocate the Department’s settlement against key priorities.

Commissioning of suitable and affordable accommodation is an operational matter for the Housing Executive. I have sought information from the Chief Executive who has advised me as follows:

‘The Supporting People (SP) Programme provides funding for services to support Young People aged 16 – 21 years, who are transitioning from care and those who are young homeless presenters, who may or may not be care experienced. A continuum of housing support for Young People is funded to ensure positive outcomes as they transition on their pathway to independent living. This includes Jointly Commissioned Supported Accommodation, STAY Projects, Shared Tenancies and Floating/Outreach Support provision which provides support to attain and maintain tenancies, preventing homelessness and providing pathways into independent living.’