The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988

Financial and other assistance for voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness

15.—(1) Without prejudice to Article 28(1)(g) of the Order of 1981, the Executive may, upon such terms and subject to such conditions as it may determine, give to a voluntary organisation concerned with homelessness, or with matters relating to homelessness, assistance by way of grant or loan.

(2) The Executive may also assist such a voluntary organisation by—

(a) permitting them to use premises belonging to the Executive upon such terms and subject to such conditions as may be agreed,

(b) making available furniture or other goods, whether by way of gift, loan or otherwise, and

(c) making available the services of staff employed by the Executive.

(3) No assistance shall be given under paragraph (1) or (2) unless the voluntary organisation first give an undertaking—

(a) that they will use the money, furniture or other goods or premises made available to them for a specified purpose, and

(b) that they will, if the Executive serves notice on them requiring them to do so, furnish, within the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice is served, a certificate giving such information as may reasonably be required by the notice with respect to the manner in which the assistance given to them is being used.

(4) The conditions subject to which assistance is given under this Article shall in all cases include, in addition to any conditions determined or agreed under paragraph (1) or (2), conditions requiring the voluntary organisation to—

(a) keep proper books of account and have them audited in such manner as may be specified,

(b) keep records indicating how they have used the money, furniture or other goods or premises made available to them, and

(c) submit the books of account and records for inspection by the Executive.

(5) If it appears to the Executive that the voluntary organisation have failed to carry out their undertaking as to the purpose for which the assistance was to be used, the Executive shall take all reasonable steps to recover from the organisation an amount equal to the amount of the assistance; but no sum is so recoverable unless the Executive has first served on the voluntary organisation a notice specifying the amount which, in the opinion of the Executive, is recoverable and the basis on which that amount has been calculated.

(6) In this Article “voluntary organisation” means a body, not being a district council or other public body, within the meaning of section 146(2) of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972(1), whose activities are carried on otherwise than for profit.

(1)

1972 c. 9 (N.I.)