Press Releases

Shared Living- Mixed Areas

30th October 2006

Shared Living- Mixed Areas

The Community Relations Council welcomes the launch today by the NI Housing Executive of a new mixed housing pilot project in Enniskillen.

Dr Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council, said:

'The vision of A Shared Future requires provision to be made and support to be given for people to be able to choose to live together in an area regardless of community, religious or ethnic background. The obstacle to people living together peaceably is not that people do not wish it. The problem is that we have never been able to make it safe in too many places.'

Commenting on the Housing Executive's first pilot scheme for Shared Future Housing Dr Morrow said: 'The Community Relations Council welcomes the opportunity offered by the Housing Executive for people to live together in a shared neighbourhood where diversity is valued. It will be important in the period ahead that support continues to be provided to the residents so that the project can be sustained in the longer term. This would provide a strong demonstration that shared living is a viable choice which can be extended to other areas.'

 The Community Relations Council is currently supporting a number of other projects in shared living and mixed areas and recently supported the publication of a research report on mixed residential areas in Northern Ireland (Shared Living by the Institute for Conflict Research www.conflictresearch.org.uk )

For further information contact

Patricia O'Neill 90-227555

Community Relations Council