Debate contribution: Homelessness: North Antrim
Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on .
- MLA
- Mr Gordon Lyons
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 November 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Homelessness: North Antrim
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4625649
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I will certainly be happy to find out further information on the specific issue that the Member raises. He will be aware, however, that commissioning decisions for Supporting People services are a matter for the Housing Executive, which is the commissioning body for the programme. I understand that the Living Rivers Trust, which is currently located on Linenhall Street in Ballymena, is funded through the Supporting People programme to provide short-term accommodation-based support for single homeless males. Following initial conversations with Lighthouse, Choice Housing approached the Housing Executive in late 2022 with a proposal to change the designation of the George Street property, which was nearing completion, from general needs accommodation to supported accommodation, with provision for clients experiencing homelessness and related issues. The Housing Executive was supportive of that proposal, and, having reviewed the activity of the pipeline schemes and proposals from housing associations in the Ballymena area, it was satisfied that the proposal aligned with identified need. They say that it enabled the Housing Executive to maximise support across different need groups and look favourably on the opportunity being presented to address unmet priority homelessness provision in Ballymena. That is the information that I have at the moment, but, if I receive a further update, I will be happy to provide it to the Member.
217 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.67).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.67 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 0.46 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.27 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.26 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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