Retreat Housing
Retreat Housing is a community-led housing initiative providing settled housing and integration support for refugees from the Horn of Africa residing in Belfast.
Why is the project needed?
After being granted their settled status, refugees have a short period to leave asylum accommodation (currently 28 days, with a maximum of 42 days), which results in many facing homelessness.
Refugees encounter long waits for social housing, if they qualify at all, and face barriers when accessing private rentals, primarily affordability and prejudice from landlords. In many cases, their only option is overcrowded temporary accommodation or unsafe, exploitative housing arrangements, which can lead to poor health and wellbeing.
Without a settled home, newcomers are unable to access employment, as employers are often reluctant to hire individuals without a fixed address, impacting their ability to build roots in, and contribute to, the community.
The Housing Solution
Retreat Housing provides stable housing and integration support for newly recognised refugees from the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan). The project is delivered by HAPANI (Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland), a non-governmental organisation with extensive experience in delivering integration support for refugees.
The model employs a community-led housing approach designed to help newcomers successfully settle into the local area, enhancing their wellbeing and promoting social cohesion and inclusivity.
HAPANI staff assist tenants with language training, accessing education and employment opportunities and mental health care, as well as independent living skills (including maintaining tenancies and navigating benefits).
The Belfast-based project operates across three multi-bedroom properties purchased by Commonweal. Retreat Housing accommodates both families and single adults separately, who can stay in the homes until they are ready to transition to more permanent, longer-term housing.
In parternhip with:
Key Statistics
-
As of March 2026, Northern Ireland supported 2,379 asylum seekers, coming from over 75 countries. The top three nationalities were Somali, Syrian, and Eritrean.
-
Across England, the number of refugee households experiencing homelessness has increased fivefold over the last four years, from 3,560 in 2021/22 to 19,310 in 2024/25.
-
Less than half (43%) of newly recognised refugees were able to secure housing during the 56-day temporary extension of the asylum move-on period, according to the Refugee Council.
Project progress
-
Following the project launch in early 2026, the independent evaluation of Retreat Housing is underway by Dr Tony Macaulay of Macaulay Associates, a consultancy firm specialising in community development and cohesion in Northern Ireland.
-
The evaluation aims to assess how similar community-led housing initiatives can support refugee integration and promote social cohesion. We anticipate sharing project learnings in early 2027.
"Community-led housing is a powerful new tool for refugee integration, providing long-term solutions to housing instability. By involving refugees with lived experience in the leadership and delivery of the projects, it provides safe, stable, and culturally appropriate homes for them".
Suleiman Abdulahi, Founder and Director of HAPANI
Case study
Yasmin’s* story
Yasmin and her three children (two older children and one younger) moved into Retreat Housing after experiencing over three years of housing instability. They had faced frequent relocations, resulting in daily long-distance travel for the children’s schooling. Yasmin stated: “You just get a call…you are moving in the next two hours. It was very stressful, extremely stressful.” Previous hotel and hostel accommodation was also severely overcrowded, and difficult for the family dynamic.
Upon moving into the Retreat property, Yasmin feels relaxed and more optimistic about the future, stating, “We are much more settled now… this is our house.” Yasmin and her children now have individual bedrooms, providing space for privacy and studying: “They can read… they have privacy… they are happy.”
*Names have been changed
Related News
