AQW 29637/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 11/02/2022
Answered On Date: 02/03/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether organisations that offer advice and helpline services, funded by her Department, have had their funding increased as a result of an increase in demand.


Answer:
My Department funds a number of organisations that offer advice and helpline services some of whom have had their funding increased as a result of an increase in demand, including:
               
In 2021/22, additional funding of £46k was provided to allow Housing Rights to meet the increased demand for advice and assistance being sought via digital enquiries .
Additional funding in the region of £366k was provided to Advice NI to operate the Covid-19 Community Helpline.  
In March 2020 I announced £1.82million additional funding for three years for the independent advice sector to assist people with benefit changes as part of the Mitigations. This is supporting and protecting 50 front line jobs including funding for appeals and representation services.