A delegation of housing associations from across Northern Ireland visited Brussels between 21 May and 23 May as part of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Association’s (NIFHA) study visit to Brussels.
Organised by NIFHA and supported by the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels, the thirty-five delegates took part in a programme of site visits across Brussels to learn from social housing counterparts in the region on how to address shared challenges and opportunities.
Highlights of the study visit include a visit to a residential development designed for older people in Schaerbeek where delegates were given a tour of the facilities and had the chance to meet residents and discuss their experiences of living there. Delegates also had the opportunity to visit a sustainable living development in Ixelles and a community led project in Evere.
An evening discussion and reception was held for delegates to present Northern Ireland best practice to Brussels-based stakeholders. Representatives from NIFHA, Clanmil Housing, Ark Housing Association and the Rural Housing Association presented case studies of how they have utilised support from the Northern Ireland Executive to advance peace through housing.
Ruth Buchanon, Business Development Director, Rural Housing Association, discussed how The Executive Office’s Good Relations Funding enabled the association to bring rural communities together in Rathfriland and Hilltown in the Rural Communities Connect Programme. Laura O’Dowd, Director of Housing, Ark Housing Association presented to stakeholders the ‘Housing for All’ shared housing programme and Pól Callaghan, Executive Director Customer & Communities, Clanmil Housing presented how funding from PEACEPLUS has supported Clanmil in peacebuilding projects.
The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels was delighted to work together with NIFHA and Housing Europe to support this visit.