- What is a Housing Association?
- Challenges facing Housing Associations
- Achievments by Housing Associations
- Complaints about Registered Housing Associations
- The Modern Social Housing Movement
- The Team at NIFHA
About Us
The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) represents and supports the voluntary housing movement in Northern Ireland.
NIFHA is the umbrella organisation representing, supporting and promoting the activities of the 36 registered and 7 non-registered Housing Associations in Northern Ireland.
Our Mission Statement
The Federation’s purpose is to enhance the ability of housing associations to improve the social well-being of people in Northern Ireland.
Our Core Values
| Independence | The Federation is independent of the government, political parties and private interests. |
| Voluntarism | Members of NIFHA Council and its Committees receive no payment for their service. They are motivated by the desire to assist the housing association movement and thus benefit the community. For further information click here. |
| Accountability | NIFHA Council is democratically elected from, and is accountable to, all of the Federation’s members in General Meetings. |
| Impartiality | The Federation aims to be even-handed in working with, and on behalf of, its members. |
| Integrity | Staff and volunteers are expected to conduct Federation business honestly, fairly and in a manner which shows respect for those with whom they are dealing. |
Our Vision for Society
In keeping with our mission and core values, the Federation shares with its members the vision of a society in which everyone can:
- enjoy decent housing conditions, with homes that meet their needs for health, warmth, space, quality of life and access to services
- be secure in their homes, free from the damaging fear of homelessness
- have access to any support or special services they may need to live full lives with maximum independence
- afford to pay for the housing they need, supported by a system of tax and benefits which allows them to take up jobs and enjoy the rewards of doing so
- lead their lives in communities that are free from inter-community strife, sectarianism, racism, crime, harassment and nuisance
- expect accountability, respect, value for money and high quality services from the organisations that help meet their housing needs
- exercise choice over where they live, what services they use, the extent of their involvement and the type of tenure of their home.
NIFHA and its members are striving to turn this vision into a reality. Housing Associations actively work to benefit the community by providing affordable accommodation and related housing services to those in greatest housing need. NIFHA’s members manage approximately 30,000 units of accommodation. This equates to a quarter of all social housing in NI and since 1998 they have been responsible for virtually all new homes built.
NIFHA offers members a range of training programmes, including seminars and workshops, fora, support with housing policy and research, communications, administration and finance. The Annual Conference offers members a unique opportunity to come together to share ideas with each other and with other housing associations from around the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe.
Members are kept informed and up-to-date with what’s happening in housing through regular briefing papers, e-news, POSH (Perspective on Social Housing) Magazine and the website.
NIFHA is funded in part by the Department for Social Development but it depends largely on member subscriptions, conference and training fees, sponsorship and exhibition fees, and advertising from external organisations.
