News

Groundbreaking Housing Project Opens In Belfast

Date Posted: Tuesday 14 December 2004

Permanent Secretaries Clive Gowdy and Alan Shannon officially open State of the Art "SMART" accommodation in South Belfast.

The Cedar Foundation and Habinteg Housing Association, as partners constantly seek new ways to enable people with physical disability to live as independently as possible. A landmark occasion took place today at the official opening of Hillmount Close, a development of 7 state of the art apartments in Finaghy, purpose built for people with disabilities. The importance of the project, a first for Northern Ireland, was highlighted by the fact that not one, but two Permanent Secretaries attended the event. The apartments have been developed in partnership with South & East Belfast Health & Social Services Trust to meet the individual needs of their tenants and will serve as a model for future developments within Northern Ireland.

At the launch, Patricia Gordon, Chief Executive, South and East Health & Social Services Trust commented:

"The Trust is delighted to be associated with this project. We have a long history of working in partnership with both The Cedar Foundation and Habinteg Housing Association. Over the last number of years we have successfully provided people with learning disability with alternatives to institutional care, Hillmount Close extends those options and will make a real difference to the lives of it's tenants"

The development consists of two blocks of four apartments, two on the ground floor and two on the 1st floor and were all designed to take into account the needs and wishes of disabled people. The ground floor apartments are specifically designed for the use of wheelchair users and all the rooms have a high level of "SMART" technological support. This enables tenants to remotely control various devices in order to; open the front door, adjust lights, operate electric beds and open and close blinds etc. There are also motion detectors to turn lights on as rooms are entered and pre programmed temperature setting for water in baths and showers.

The development, costing over £900,000, was funded by grant aid from the Department for Social Development, South & East Belfast H&SS Trust, and various charitable foundations. The official opening was carried out jointly by Mr Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development and Mr Clive Gowdy, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Mr Shannon paid tribute to Habinteg Housing Association and The Cedar Foundation. He said "A project like this is not just about bricks and mortar: it is about providing homes that give their occupants a high degree of independence and quality of life despite the challenges they face from their disabilities."

Mr Shannon commented that Mr John Spellar MP, the Minister for Social Development had said that the Hillmount Close development was an excellent example of the contribution made by the voluntary housing movement. The Minister believed that Housing Associations and their partners played a vital role in providing supported accommodation and housing support services to vulnerable people and helped maintain stable and independent lives in the community. The department was delighted to support such worthy work.

Mr Clive Gowdy, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety added:

"Hillmount Close is a fine example of how innovative thinking, the use of new technology, and partnership working between the statutory and voluntary sectors can enable disabled people to live independently in the community. The Cedar Foundation, and it's partner organisations, are to be commended on what they have achieved."

Dr Lesley Calderwood and Mr George Harkness, Chairpersons of The Cedar Foundation and Habinteg Housing Association, jointly thanked the Permanent Secretaries for their kind comments and support.

If you would like to find out more details about the The Cedar Foundation please contact www.cedar-foundation.org or e.mail: info@cedar-foundation.org

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