Housing Executive investing £3 million in Ballymoney

The Executive's strategy is to work together to get results, acting Director of Housing and Regeneration Helen Walker told Ballymoney councillors on Monday when she met them to discuss their District Housing Plan.

She said: "We all know how the recession has affected the housing market, and the fall in the sale of Housing Executive homes has had a significant impact on our funding. Faced with this, the priority is to direct resources towards housing for vulnerable people and those without a home of their own.

"However, we are already aware that the new coalition Government plans to make substantial and unprecedented savings. We have been warned that these cuts will affect everyone in the United Kingdom and will have "enormous implications.

"Following on from this the Northern Ireland Executive will therefore have no option but to make some very difficult and painful decisions. We will continue to make the case for continued investment in housing but at the same time be realistic in our expectations and what we can hope to deliver.

"All of us understand the hardship experienced by families who are waiting for a home of their own. The Housing Executive's focus is to prioritise its resources on those in greatest need. We have made new housing our top priority and concentrated our funding on meeting housing need.

"Last year we recorded 1,838 new social housing starts. This is the highest number in over a decade. It is an encouraging start but it is only the beginning."

Helen Walker continued: "We want to protect the level of investment in housing in Ballymoney to date and to secure funding to improve homes which are not up to standard. We know that Ballymoney councillors and their constituents are impatient for more and better housing, new bathrooms, new kitchens and new windows.

"Our responsibility is to meet housing need, to deliver high quality housing services and to rise to the highest standards of public service. We need to ensure that those most at risk in our society are supported and we are channelling our resources to deliver the best results possible. But as a public body we must live within our means.

"Earlier this month a high level report was published into the future for housing in Northern Ireland. This report is timely and important given the changing political, social and economic climate. It acknowledges the transformation in housing in places like Ballymoney. As councillors you will have seen good housing act as the catalyst for better health and social wellbeing.

"This report has spelled out the central role which the Housing Executive will continue to have on behalf of Government – translating its policy objectives into successful local outcomes."

Helen Walker concluded: "Housing in Ballymoney is not just about physical 'bricks and mortar' issues. We are committed to providing quality housing services and working with others to create safe and confident communities. We want to make sure that Ballymoney housing makes its full contribution to improving the quality of life for Ballymoney people."

Referring specifically to the Housing Executive's investment in Ballymoney Borough in 2009/10 the North East Area Manager, Frank O'Connor said: "Last year the Housing Executive:

* Spent 1.69m on improving and maintaining Housing Executive homes in Ballymoney;

* Invested 660,000 to assist vulnerable people through the Supporting People programme. There are currently 12 supported housing accommodation based schemes and 5 floating support providers in the council area.

* Provided 490,000 on grant aid to improve housing conditions in the private sector.

* Commenced adaptations to 39 tenants' homes; we invested 129,000 on adapting Housing Executive homes in the Borough.

* Provided 1,021 private sector tenants with Housing Benefit assistance, an increase of 63% from March 2006.

* Worked with 13 community groups in Ballymoney Borough.

Spelling out the Housing Executive's agenda in Ballymoney for the coming year, when the Housing Executive plans to invest 2.92 million the Borough, Frank O'Connor said:

"* Housing Waiting List - The number of housing stress applicants on the Ballymoney waiting list decreased from 203 at December 2008 to 135 at December 2009. We believe that the growth in private renting has been instrumental in creating increased choice for people looking for a home of their own.

"* Housing allocations - Last year we allocated 127 Housing Executive homes to waiting list applicants compared to 72 allocations the previous year. The District Housing Plan shows that one in two applicants who are in housing stress in Ballymoney Borough want to live in a rural area.

"* New social housing - A scheme for 5 units of supported accommodation is now being developed by Triangle Housing Association at Ballymena Road, Ballymoney. The Association also provided 4 new homes in Rasharkin in the past year. The three year Social Housing Development Programme (April 2010 - March 2013) includes a further 27 homes in Ballymoney town and at Cloughmills, Corkey and Rasharkin.

"* Homelessness in Ballymoney Borough - The number of homeless people has decreased from 155 in March 2006 to 96 in March 2010. Over two-thirds of those accepted as homeless were either single people or small families. The Housing Executive will continue to work hard to provide services to support those faced with homelessness in Ballymoney Borough. We also want to review our temporary accommodation, consider expanding floating support services and examine the range of help we provide to vulnerable young people and offenders.

"* Supporting people to live independently in Ballymoney - This year we will invest 670k to help the most vulnerable people in Ballymoney to continue to live independently. This is especially important for older people and people with disabilities. There are currently 12 supported housing accommodation based schemes and 5 floating support providers in the council area.

"* Maintaining Housing Executive homes in Ballymoney - Despite pressures on our funding the Housing Executive will continue to provide its day-to-day maintenance service. Housing Executive tenants in Ballymoney Borough will see this service protected in line with their conditions of tenancy. This year we plan to install new heating systems in 42 Ballymoney homes and carry out external maintenance at 390 properties across the Borough.

"* Empty Housing Executive homes in Ballymoney - The Housing Executive continues to place importance on reducing the number of empty properties in Ballymoney Borough. At the end of March there were 11 empty Housing Executive homes in the Borough. Nine of these were awaiting allocation and the remaining 2 require improvement work prior to allocation.

"* Warm Homes Scheme - In 2006 the level of fuel poverty in Ballymoney Borough was 35.2%, compared to the Northern Ireland average (34.2%). In the 9 months to March 2010 132 homes in the Borough were insulated and a further 12 homes had both insulation and heating installed.

"* Grants improving private homes in Ballymoney - In the past year we have had to limit private sector grants to protect the Statutory Disabled Facilities Grants and Repair Grants. Only a small number of discretionary grants were approved last year. With limited funding this year it is likely that approvals for discretionary grants will remain low. In 2009-10 34 grants were approved to the value of 386k in Ballymoney Borough. We have allocated 470k for grants for Ballymoney Borough in the coming year.

"* Building stronger communities in Ballymoney - The Ballymoney Housing Community Network and the 13 local community and residents groups are doing valuable work reviewing and improving housing services for local people. Local staff are working diligently with residents and others to promote and encourage safer, settled and inclusive housing areas within the Ballymoney Borough.

"* Improving public housing services in Ballymoney - Our Ballymoney office continues to provide dedicated housing services in the Ballymoney Borough. Staff here are ably assisted by the new Customer Services Units, located in Twickenham House, Ballymena, providing Repairs, Accounts and Housing Benefits services."

Frank O'Connor concluded: "I would like to extend my thanks to the Councillors and Officers of Ballymoney Borough Council for their support over the past year. The District Manager, staff and I look forward to continuing to work with the Council on issues of mutual interest in the coming year."

The Housing Executive publishes annual District Housing Plans for each of the 26 District Councils in Northern Ireland. The Plans detail the range of strategic factors, issues and initiatives which will impact on the local housing environment over the next year. They also provide an opportunity to report on performance for the previous year, 2009/10, and consult with local representatives on proposed housing programmes and investment for 2010/11.