Northern Ireland Office

Secretary of State Peter Hain today officially opened a unique shared social housing development at Carran Crescent, Enniskillen.

The project, a partnership between the Ulidia Housing Association and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), is the first to be completed under the principles of the “Shared Future” document of April 2005 that outlined the Government’s vision for a peaceful, inclusive and fair society.  

The Carran Crescent project is the first to be completed of a number of mixed community housing pilot schemes developed on the principles of a “Shared Future.”

After declaring the development officially open, the Secretary of State met tenants and visited one of the homes.  Afterwards, he said: “Over the years Northern Ireland has come to accept as normal, a society where most people live separately and where our children are educated separately. This division and segregation through housing, employment and in schooling has come at a high price for the whole community.

“We need to change this geometry of relationships – we need to see new models of shared housing and shared schooling.

“This project here in Carran Crescent addresses the vision of shared communities by identifying ways in which these imbalances in public housing patterns can be addressed and shared housing schemes are achieved. The make-up of this new community in Carran Crescent demonstrates the diversity of the new Northern Ireland.”

To mark the launch the event concluded with the cutting of a ribbon at the entrance to the scheme.

Notes to Editors

1. Shared future housing offers residents the opportunity to live in a shared neighbourhood where diversity is welcomed based on the principles of mutual respect, choice, a community engaged in meaningful dialogue and a place that is welcoming to all.
2. Residents in the Carran Crescent development have voluntarily signed a “Neighbourhood Charter” which underlines their commitment to Shared Future. It also allows them, aided by a Shared Future Officer, to shape their neighbourhood along agreed lines.
3. Ulidia began as a lobbying group and registered as a housing association in 1977. It has now developed over 60 housing projects throughout Northern Ireland. Although the Association initially built solely for lone parents it subsequently developed a number of partnership arrangements with other voluntary organisations involved in supported housing such as Women's Aid, the Simon Community, Edward Street Hostel, Craigavon & Banbridge Health and Social Services Trust. Although Ulidia's roots are in the provision of supported housing the Association is now also a major provider of general family housing.