Refugee-Led Housing: Safe, Dignified & Affordable Homes

A New Model of Refugee-Led Housing in Northern Ireland

Retreat Housing provides safe, dignified, culturally sensitive homes for refugees and asylum seekers — led and shaped by people with lived experience.

We believe a stable, safe home is the foundation for recovery, integration and opportunity.

Expanding Access to Safe Housing

Growing Our Housing Portfolio: Increasing the number of homes available to newcomer families in welcoming communities.

HAPANI Stories

“Six years in a hostel… and still waiting.”

A mother with two children gained refugee status in 2017. She has lived in two small rooms in a homeless hostel ever since. “My kids ask, ‘Mummy, when will we have a house?’ and I tell them I don’t know… but we keep hoping.”

HAPANI continues to challenge the injustice of long-term homelessness for working refugee families.

Holistic Tenancy Support

Our housing team walks alongside each family

Pre-Tenancy Guidance
Preparing families for their new home
Wellbeing Check-ins
Regular visits to ensure safety and stability
Wraparound Referrals
Linking residents to health, education, employment and legal services

Fair & Transparent Selection

Need-Based Allocation: Prioritising those at highest risk of homelessness or facing severe barriers

Working with Local Communities

Some neighbourhoods face disadvantage, fear or misinformation. We work proactively to build understanding.

Local Engagement:
Conversations with residents, community groups and stakeholders to foster acceptance of newcomers

Building a Sustainable Refugee-Led Housing Model

Strategic Partnerships
Working with government, developers, housing associations and social investors
Pilot Evaluation
Documenting our model to influence future policy and scale refugee-led housing nationally
Housing Justice Advocacy
Challenging systemic barriers that keep refugees in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation

Our Goal

To grow a community-led housing model that offers dignity, safety and opportunity — and shapes fairer housing policy for the future.

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