AQW 5256/16-21 Written question to the Minister for Communities

To ask the Minister for Communities how the Northern Ireland Housing Executive monitors incidents of intimidation of racial minorities accepting social housing offers.

Asked by Naomi Long MLA on 13 October 2016

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
13 October 2016
Answer due by
28 October 2016
Answered
26 October 201613 days after tabling
Department
Department for Communities
Priority question
No

Answer

Where a social housing offer has been accepted and the tenant subsequently terminates his/her tenancy, the Housing Executive has monitoring mechanisms in place to collate information regarding the reasons for termination. These include circumstances where there is alleged intimidation.

If the intimidation takes the form of physical damage, the Housing Executive has monitoring information through use of the Hate Incident Practical Action (HIPA) scheme. The HIPA scheme is available across Northern Ireland to support victims of hate incidents in their homes. It is supported by the Department of Justice, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive and the Department for Communities. The scheme is available to owner-occupiers, tenants in privately rented accommodation , Housing Executive properties and has recently been extended to cover Housing Association properties.

Official sources