APPENDIX 4
Memorandum submitted by the Northern Ireland
Housing Executive
I have set out the Housing Executive's policy
and procedures in relation to intimidation. While it does not
add greatly to the NIO memorandum, I think it adequately covers
the main thrust of our actions.
As regards the funding bid for the Shankill
disturbances, we were provided £1.5 million for the main
costs (repairs/rehabilitation, acquisitions and ancillary costs).
In addition we were covered for SPED cases throughout Northern
Ireland including the Shankill (which in fact involved relatively
few cases).
RELOCATION FOLLOWING
PARAMILITARY INTIMIDATION
1. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive
provides a range of services in relation to persons subjected
to paramilitary intimidation. These services cover:
(a) assessment of need for social housing
or rehousing;
(b) temporary rehousing; furniture storage;
securing homes;
(c) purchasing the homes of intimidated persons
(Scheme for the Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings—SPED);
(d) rehousing through normal social housing
stock or by acquiring properties (Acquisition of Satisfactory
Housing).
The policy and procedures for each of these
services are detailed below.
2. Assessment of Need
2.1 Under Housing Executive policy, any
persons presented and accepted as homeless because of intimidation
are awarded sufficient housing points to ensure that they are
treated as a priority for rehousing.
2.2 The assessment process involves the
Housing Executive referring the case to the RUC for confirmation
or otherwise of the intimidation.
2.3 The applicant has freedom of choice
as to where he/she seeks to be rehoused.
2.4 Where an applicant is accepted as homeless
because of intimidation, he/she is entitled to an emergency grant
of £199.40 provided they were a public or private tenant
a the time of the intimidation.
3. Temporary Rehousing and Related Services
3.1 Households claiming intimidation are
entitled to temporary rehousing pending an investigation of their
case or while they await permanent rehousing.
3.2 An applicant may make his own arrangements.
Alternatively the Housing Executive arranges, if requested, the
storage of their furniture and belongings and will take steps,
if considered necessary, to secure the property.
4. Purchasing the homes of intimidated persons
4.1 Where an owner-occupier has been intimidated
he/she may request the Housing Executive to purchase their dwelling.
4.2 The Housing Executive will purchase
the property provided it is the person's main residence and the
case is certified by the RUC as intimidation.
5. Rehousing
5.1 Under the Housing Executive's letting
policy, applicants who have suffered intimidation would be treated
as urgent cases (through the award of points). The time taken
to rehouse the applicant depends on the areas of choice and the
availability of supply.
5.2 Where the Housing Executive takes the
view that it is unlikely to rehouse the applicant through normal
stock within a reasonable period of time, it will seek to acquire
a suitable property. This may be applied as a general policy to
ease rehousing pressures or for a specific individual household.
8 December 2000
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