Housing and Health Ministers launch New Foundations initiative to support care leavers

Date published: 2 December 2025

The New Foundations programme sets out a holistic approach to providing practical support and personal guidance for young people as they leave the care system. It includes a housing-led pilot, which will provide ‘Housing First’ accommodation to young people leaving the care system, to prevent their homelessness.

Speaking at the launch of New Foundations, Minister Lyons reinforced his commitment to homelessness prevention. He said: 

“For care leavers, having a safe, secure and affordable place to live is vital. Every year around 140 young people who have recently aged out of the care system present as homeless. Their experience and the challenges they face have helped shape this project; it is a unique opportunity to prevent homelessness for young people transitioning out of the care system.

“This ambitious programme aims to provide these young people not just with a place to live, but a tailored support package which will give them the confidence to continue with their education or forge ahead in their career. As a Programme for Government commitment, I am pleased to see the collaboration between government departments, as well as the health trusts and Northern Ireland Housing Executive to make a real difference in young people’s futures.”

New Foundations aims to embed permanent systems change across government, driving collaboration between statutory agencies, to meet their ‘Corporate Parenting’ role to young people. It will provide housing alongside a range of flexible and scalable support mechanisms to give care leavers opportunities across education, training and employment as well as support to settle into their new home and enjoy their independence.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 

“A safe home is only the beginning. What truly makes the difference for care leavers is the wraparound support provided by our Health and Social Care Trusts. This support goes far beyond accommodation. It equips young people with the tools and confidence they need to succeed in independence.

“It means learning essential life skills like budgeting, cooking, managing bills and maintaining a tenancy. It means having emotional and practical guidance to help them navigate challenges and build resilience, while also opening doors to education, employment and health services so they can access the opportunities every young person deserves. The impact of this support is profound.

“By embedding this support into the New Foundations Action Plan, we are not simply aiming to prevent homelessness, we are laying strong foundations for brighter, more secure futures.”

Grainia Long, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, said: 

“New Foundations is a bold, cross-departmental commitment within the Programme for Government – aimed at changing housing, health and justice systems so that they work collaboratively in the interests of the children and young people we serve. Its development has been strongly informed by evidence of what works elsewhere and by the lived experiences of young people.

“New Foundations provides a vision of a society where every young person leaving care has a clear, supported pathway to independence, with safe, stable housing, tailored support, and opportunities for education and employment. We welcome the strong commitment from the Northern Ireland Executive, and from the Minister for Communities and the Minister for Health, to deliver this programme. New Foundations demonstrates that by working across government, we can prevent homelessness and meet our obligations to children and young people."