Annex 1
PROGRAMME FOR GOVERNMENT—CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN HOUSING AND OTHER OBJECTIVES
1. HOUSING AND
HEALTH
1.1 The Housing Executive's "Housing
and Health-A Shared Agenda" sets down the contribution of
housing to secure better health and well-being.
1.2 Principles and processes for planning,
commissioning and partnering were developed as part of the agenda.
Health Action Zones, Health Improvement Programmes and Healthy
Cities provide strong structural links.
1.3 Supporting People came into effect in
Northern Ireland on 1 April 2003. The programme brings together
the previous funding streams for housing support services and
aims to improve the planning development delivery of these services
to vulnerable people, to enable them to live as independently
as possible. In managing the Supporting People Fund the Housing
Executive has developed a multi-agency approach involving partnership
working with the statutory community and voluntary sectors. The
budget for Supporting People is £50 million per annum.
1.4 The main programme linkages are—
— new build design (most recently resulting
in the adoption of lifetime homes standards);
— property modernisation programmes;
— supported housing development for
people with mental health problems, physical disabilities, hearing
disabilities and other needs;
— adaptations to extend independent
living;
— case management services to effect
house improvements for elderly/disabled people in the private
sector; and
— integration of services for homeless
people.
1.5 Annual direct investment in the Shared
Agenda averages £120 million per annum.
2. HOUSING AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
2.1 The Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development (DARD) launched its Rural Development Programme in
2001. NIHE's Rural Housing Strategy complements the programme
and structural links between them have been developed.
2.2 The Rural Community Network, Rural Development
Council, District Councils and DARD (Rural Development Division)
together with NIHE have also targeted specific rural estates for
integrated programme delivery.
2.3 Environmental and heritage schemes are
also being promoted in conjunction with DARD (Countryside Management).
2.4 Annual direct investment in the housing-related
programmes averages £30 million per annum.
3. ENERGY CONSERVATION/FUEL
POVERTY
3.1 The Housing Executive is the Home Energy
Conservation Authority for the Province and has worked with a
range of bodies including the regulator, the supply industry,
Government, Energy Advice and the fuel poverty lobby. The Housing
Executive has been set a target of making substantial progress
towards a 34% improvement in energy efficiency over the 10 year
period 1996-2006. By the House Condition Survey 2001 the improvement
was measured at 13%, almost twice the average improvement secured
elsewhere in the UK.
4. HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY SAFETY
4.1 The Northern Ireland Office Community
Safety Strategy sets the framework for housing-related programmes
aimed at crime reduction, community-based safety schemes and partnership
structures.
4.2 This has been translated into a Housing
Community Safety Strategy which focuses on—
— designing out crime on existing estates
including enhanced security for individual properties;
— tackling anti-social behaviour through
preventative and punitive measures; and
— increasing local presence in specific
neighbourhoods through a neighbourhood warden service.
4.3 Annual direct investment in the programmes
is estimated at £7 million per annum.
5. HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY CAPACITY
5.1 Developing community capacity is a key
objective in the Programme for Government and relates in the most
part to social housing neighbourhoods.
5.2 NIHE operates a Housing Community Network
which seeks to involve around 400 community groups in policy,
programme and service development.
5.3 In addition NIHE, often in conjunction
with the Department for Social Development's regeneration and
voluntary activity units, directly supports capacity measures
in individual neighbourhoods or sectors.
5.4 Strong links also exist with the voluntary
sector particularly in the provision of supporting people, homelessness
and energy efficiency services.
5.5 Annual investment in community capacity
programmes averages £2 million per annum.
6. HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
6.1 Given the social and financial costs
of segregation, intimidation, and sectarianism NIHE view the Programme
for Government's commitment to better community relations as an
objective particularly relevant to housing.
6.2 The Community Relations Unit of OFM/DFM
published a consultation document "A Shared Future".
NIHE has welcomed the proposals.
6.3 Specific programmes are undertaken at
interface areas to ensure physical conditions do not deteriorate
to the extent that they pose a threat to community stability.
6.4 Investment is not specifically directed
at the community relations agenda but community capacity and urban/neighbourhood
renewal programmes are deemed to support better community relations
both within and between communities.
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