Working hand in hand with Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Vineyard Compassion works closely with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) as part of the Sustaining Tenancies programme, a grant-funded initiative designed to help tenants remain securely in their rented homes. Through this partnership, Vineyard Compassion provides a range of practical and emotional support, from counselling and benefits advice to financial guidance and community-based activities, to address the challenges that can put tenancies at risk. By working alongside tenants at key points in their journey, VC helps them build resilience, stability, and confidence, preventing crises before they threaten their housing.
We think this individual story, captured by NIHE, will help readers better understand what our work at the Hope Centre looks like, how long it can take to work through issues with the people we help and just how important it is to work alongside other agencies to get the right help to the right people at the right time.
Tenant A’s story:
This tenant first came to Vineyard Compassion in 2023, at a point when life had become increasingly overwhelming. Their mental health had dipped, their confidence was low, and isolation had crept in after a series of personal choices left them without meaningful connection or routine. Managing day‑to‑day responsibilities was becoming harder, and the strain was beginning to show in their tenancy. They recognised they needed help, and counselling was the first step they were willing to take.
Engaging with the Emotional Wellbeing Service at Vineyard Compassion became a turning point. The regular sessions gave the tenant space to talk honestly about their struggles, understand the patterns that were affecting their stability, and begin rebuilding emotional resilience.
As their mental health slowly steadied, they found themselves able to look at other areas of life that needed support.
By 2024, the tenant reached out again, this time for benefits advice. Their finances were becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and they were unsure how to navigate the system. Vineyard Compassion arranged appointments, supported them through the process, and provided foodbank support alongside the benefits work to ease the immediate pressure. Around the same time, the tenant was brought to Vineyard Compassion through a men’s group, where it became clear that budgeting was a major challenge. They began receiving 1‑1 financial support, learning how to manage money in a way that would protect their tenancy rather than put it at risk.
These layers of support - emotional, practical, and financial - helped stabilise the tenant’s situation. Counselling had opened the door, but the wrap‑around help was what allowed them to move from crisis into a place of genuine progress.
At the start of 2025, the tenant joined RESET Social Supermarket, wanting to build long‑term resilience and better habits around money, wellbeing, and community. RESET offered structure and purpose, but the tenant didn’t want to wait to get involved. They asked about volunteering almost immediately, eager to contribute and be part of something. They began volunteering at the Barista Bar, discovering that the routine, the social interaction, and the sense of purpose were incredibly grounding for their mental health.
Volunteering became more than an activity; it became a lifeline. The tenant, who had once been isolated, now found themselves surrounded by people who encouraged them, valued them, and believed in their potential. Their confidence grew, their mindset shifted, and for the first time in a long time, they began thinking about the future with hope.
Today, the tenant is still engaged with RESET and continues to volunteer at the Barista Bar. They are actively looking for employment and hoping to secure a barista job, using the skills and experience they’ve gained. Their mental health is stronger, their finances are more stable, and they are no longer facing life alone. Most importantly, their tenancy has been sustained, not just through crisis intervention, but through long‑term support that helped them rebuild their wellbeing, their confidence, and their sense of community.
This story highlights the impact of the NIHE–Vineyard Compassion partnership, showing how a combination of emotional, practical, and community support can make a real difference in people’s lives. By helping tenants maintain their tenancies, regain confidence, and reconnect with their local community, this collaboration not only safeguards housing but also strengthens wellbeing, independence, and offers them fresh hope for what is possible in their future.
We love this good news story!