Homelessness and housing insecurity in Northern Ireland has been noted as a concern by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC, 2016a). The Committee has highlighted particular concerns regarding households with dependent children, many of whom are young children and infants living with family in temporary accommodation (TA). They have also noted concerns with regard to young people facing homelessness, as well as children seeking asylum. Due to a concern that children’s and young people’s right to a home, shelter or accommodation is not being effectively met in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People commissioned a scoping paper to better understand the scale and impact of homelessness or housing insecurity affecting children and families in Northern Ireland (Corr & Holland, 2021). This study builds on the desk-based scoping study with an aim to increase understanding of the lived experiences of children, young people and families that face homelessness and housing insecurity, and the concomitant ramifications for their rights. This study adopts the broader definition of ‘homelessness’ that captures the diverse living experiences of those who live in temporary and insecure accommodation, and includes those who may not satisfy all four statutory tests in Northern Ireland.

The aim of the study was to increase the understanding of the lived experiences of children, young people and families facing homelessness and housing insecurity exploring pathways through homeless and housing services, the suitability of accommodation and the impact of homelessness and housing insecurity in their lives. A key aim was to inform recommendations to government where it is failing to meet its obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNCRC).