Choice has spent nearly £48,000 on Home Starter Packs designed to help tenants turn their new house into a home. The packs were purchased from Homeless Connect, a Belfast-based charity working with organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Home Starter Packs include essential household goods such as bedding, towels, kitchenware, cleaning equipment, and toiletries – all items that help new tenants settle in and maintain their tenancy. Research shows that having the basic possessions required for everyday life can reduce stress and significantly improve the chances of long-term tenancy sustainment, particularly for people moving from unstable living situations.
The Home Starter Pack project began with funding from the Public Health Agency in 2014, and local housing associations started purchasing packs in 2024. To date, Homeless Connect has delivered 842 starter packs, averaging around 40 per month.
“A house becomes a home when people feel supported, secure, and valued,” said Aidan McCrea, Financial Inclusion Manager at Choice. “Our investment in Home Starter Packs is more than providing essential household items – it demonstrates our commitment to remove barriers when setting up home. Being provided with a tenancy is just the first step, and projects like this strengthen the overall support we provide to our new tenants.”
He added: “Many people transitioning from homelessness or difficult circumstances do not have the basic possessions that make daily life manageable. By partnering with Homeless Connect, we are helping to restore dignity and create a real sense of belonging from day one. These packs provide more than towels and bedding – they offer much-needed security and a foundation for a more stable future.”
McCrea continued: “Supporting our tenants in meaningful, practical ways like this helps strengthen tenancies, prevent repeat homelessness, and build local communities that are more resilient. That is at the very heart of everything we do at Choice.”
Paula Maskey, Head of Business Solutions at Homeless Connect, welcomed Choice’s support of the Home Starter Pack project, saying: “Choice is a valued partner of Homeless Connect, working with us to support tenants as they settle into their new homes. Each pack provides practical necessities designed to make a house feel like a home from the very beginning.”
She added: “This collaboration reflects Choice’s commitment to supporting tenant wellbeing and Homeless Connect’s mission to provide practical help to those moving on from homelessness.”
