Housing Executive Backs Christmas Hamper Appeal for Homeless

Housing Executive staff from across the north have collected hundreds of essential items to support The Welcome Organisation's annual Christmas hamper appeal. During this year's Homelessness Awareness Week, staff donated food items which will be included in festive hampers for people experiencing homelessness.

Every year during the Christmas period, the Welcome Organisation distributes over 300 hampers filled with essentials like food, toiletries and clothes. The donations from Housing Executive staff will be distributed directly to people experiencing homelessness over the festive period.

Homelessness Awareness Week 2025 took place between Monday, 1 December and Sunday, 7 December. Organised by Homeless Connect, the annual week incorporated a week of social, educational and awareness events aimed at raising awareness of the reality of homelessness in Northern Ireland.

Catherine Carey, Homelessness Strategy Manager at the Housing Executive, said: "We have been so impressed by the generosity shown by colleagues in our offices to support The Welcome Organisation's hamper appeal. Our teams work closely with the charity all year round to connect those in need with the essential crisis accommodation, mental health and financial support that they provide. We are proud to contribute to The Welcome Organisation's hamper appeal and present them with these donations which I'm sure will make such a big difference to people during the festive period."

Kieran Hughes from The Welcome Organisation said: "We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone from the Housing Executive who donated so generously to the donation appeal for The Welcome Organisation during Homelessness Awareness Week. The items donated will have a real and positive impact on our work and in turn on the lives of the people we support. They will be distributed directly to people experiencing homelessness over the Christmas period. An extra special thank you to Catherine and James from the Housing Executive's Homelessness Strategy and Homeless Projects teams who competed in the gruelling Hyrox, Dublin to raise donations for Welcome."

For more information visit nihe.gov.uk.