Ministers hail life-changing impact of New Foundations programme
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Robbie Butler have seen first-hand the life-changing impact the New Foundations programme is having in preventing homelessness and supporting young people moving on from care.
During a visit to the first homes delivered by the programme, in Londonderry, the Ministers met Kevin Johnson who spoke about his own experiences and how the initiative has given him the stability, support and opportunities needed to build a brighter future.
Speaking after visiting Kevin in his home, Minister Lyons said:
“Meeting Kevin, hearing his story and seeing the progress he has made since moving into his new home was both inspiring and hugely encouraging. His experience shows the life-changing difference that a safe place to call home and the right support, at the right time, can make.
“The New Foundations programme is about giving young people leaving care the stability, confidence and practical support they need to live independently. Through accommodation and wraparound support, it is helping them realise their potential and look to the future with confidence.
“The positive impact it has had on Kevin’s life reinforces my commitment to supporting the continued roll-out of New Foundations, in partnership with the Department of Health and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, so that more young people can benefit from the same opportunities and support.
“New Foundations shows the value of making effective prevention a more systematic part of how we address homelessness. That is why I recently signalled my intention to establish a Homelessness Commission to consider how successful and transformative initiatives like this can be embedded more widely across our system.”
Health Minister Robbie Butler said:
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet Kevin and I thank him for sharing his experiences with us. Having a secure place to call home is fundamental to our wellbeing. This accommodation demonstrates what can be achieved when government and statutory partners work together to create not only homes, but opportunities for young people to thrive.
“We know that care-experienced young people can face challenges as they transition to adulthood. What makes New Foundations particularly important is that it is a genuine systems change programme which recognises that homelessness among care-experienced young people is not inevitable. It is therefore especially fitting that the Department of Health and the Department for Communities have come together to lead this programme. We are taking a shared responsibility for improving outcomes, bringing together housing, health, social care and community services around a common purpose.”
Kevin, who moved into his new accommodation in the summer, described how having a safe place to call home through New Foundations has helped him grow in confidence and independence.
He said:
“Having a safe place to call home has been like the beginning of a new life for me. The New Foundations programme has given me stability, helped me grow in confidence and allowed me to look to the future with hope. Knowing that more young people will have the chance to access the same support is really encouraging, and I hope it will make as much of a difference to their lives as it has to mine.”
Funded through the New Foundations programme and extensively refurbished by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the new accommodation in Londonderry offers four self-contained flats and a small communal courtyard designed to support independent living.
John McMullan, Northern Ireland Housing Executive vice-chair, said:
“A permanent home provides more than a roof over someone’s head. It gives young people a secure foundation from which to build their independence, pursue education, training or employment, and plan for their future. New Foundations reflects our commitment to preventing homelessness before it occurs, ensuring young people leaving care have access to safe, secure accommodation and the support needed to thrive in their communities
“By working with others, we are bringing together housing and tailored support to help young people make the transition from care to independent living. These first homes are an important step towards providing that opportunity to more young people through the continued roll-out of New Foundations.”
It is estimated that every year between 120 and 140 young people who have recently aged out of the care system present as homeless, while care leavers are 17 times more likely to experience homelessness compared to young people with no social care history.
Notes to editors:
- Photo Caption 1: Kevin Johnson pictured chatting with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Robbie Butler inside his city centre flat in Londonderry.
- Photo caption 2: Kevin Johnson pictured with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Health Minister Robbie Butler, and NIHE vice-chair John McMullan.
- The New Foundations programme, which was launched in December 2025, is a collaboration between government departments, health trusts and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It provides housing while also enabling young people leaving care to access opportunities in education, training and employment.
- The New Foundations programme aims to deliver 30 homes by the end of the 2026/27 financial year. The accommodation in Londonderry represents the first completed phase of the programme’s housing element. Over its three-year lifespan to March 2029, the programme has a target of providing up to 100 homes alongside tailored wraparound support for young people leaving care.
- To date, Department for Communities has allocated £9.4 million to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to deliver the acquisitions element of the New Foundations programme. Each home acquired under the programme will be owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and allocated as a permanent social home.
- November is National Care Leavers Month, a UK-wide awareness campaign that celebrates the strengths and achievements of care leavers while shining a spotlight on the support they need to thrive as independent adults. Access to accommodation, education, employment, health and wellbeing support are all central to this transition and are reflected in the objectives of the New Foundations programme.
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