How we are organised

Housing Rights Service currently employs 27 full time staff with core funding provided by the Department for Social Development. The balance of the funding required is generated from the sale of services and by donations and grants from a range of:

  • statutory sources,
  • charitable sources, and
  • private sources

Housing Rights Service works with a wide network of member agencies, both voluntary and statutory. Representatives of our members form the voluntary management committee.

Management Committee

Chair - Ciaran Muldoon
Ciaran was employed as a Housing Officer with James Butcher Housing from 1984 to 1990 when he took up his current post of Area Housing Manager with Fold Housing Association.

Ciaran was elected to the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in November 1994, and was Treasurer from 1995 - 1998. In November 1998, he took up the post of Vice-chair and in 2005 was elected to the post of Chair.

Vice-chair - Andrew Hassard
Andrew has been employed with Belfast City Council since 1974. He is currently Head of Environmental Health in the Health and Environmental Services Department. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and is one of three elected Trustees representing Northern Ireland on the Council of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Andrew is also the chairman of Belfast Healthy Cities

Andrew was co-opted to the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in May 1995 and was subsequently elected at the AGM in October 1995. Andrew was elected Vice Chair of Housing Rights Service in 2005.

Treasurer - John Gartland
John has been employed as the Chief Executive Officer of Ulidia Housing Association since 1985. He joined the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in September 1993.

John served as Chair from November 2001 to 2004.

Secretary - Brian Holmes
Brian has over 25 years experience of working full-time in Community Development. After graduating from the University of Ulster he worked in Glasgow's Drumchapel Estate. Since 1979 Brian has developed and managed a Community Development Project, initially in a single estate, which has progressed to a province wide organisation.

As Director of the Northern Ireland Tenants Action Project he manages a team of Development Staff, Specialist Officers and an Administration Team who provide a comprehensive service to Community Groups across Northern Ireland.

Brian was elected to the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in October 1992. Since then he has served on a number of positions on the Committee - he was chair of the organisation from 1998 - 2001 and is currently Secretary.

Katie Hanlon
Katie is Director of Ballynafeigh Community Development Association. Her role in the organisation includes strategic development and day to day management of a community development resource centre. her previous experience includes involvement in the community development, advice and community relations sectors for over twenty years. She is a founding member of AdviceNI and was elected to the committee of Housing Rights Service in 2005.

Donall Henderson

Donall is Housing policy and research manager with the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations. He is responsible for the policy and research functions within the federation which includes representation, response and consultation on behalf of its members.

Maurice Jennings
Maurice has been employed with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive since 1977. Previously Deputy Manager of the Housing Advice Centre, he now holds the post of Assistant Director of Personnel. He was elected to the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in November 1993.

Allison Kingsmill
Allison is employed in the Housing Division of the Department for Social Development. She joined the Management Committee in February 2002.

Maura McCallion
A qualified solicitor, Maura is currently employed with Law Centre (NI) as Assistant Director (Casework) with responsibility for ensuring quality of advice and casework services. She is a member of the Law Centre Management Team.

Her experience includes being Chair of Belfast Amnesty International Group. Maura was elected to the Management Committee of Housing Rights Service in November 2001 and to the Office Bearers Group in 2005.

Staff organisational structure

Housing Rights Service currently employs 27 full time staff. The Staff organisational structure (40k pdf) shows how Housing Rights Service is organised.

Management Team

  • Director - Janet Hunter
  • Head of Operations - Jim O'Callaghan
  • Business Support Manager - Una McGirr
  • Community Housing Advice Project Manager - Peter McMahon
  • Policy & Communications Manager - Nicola McCrudden
  • Casework Manager - Ursula Toner
  • Training Manager - Louise Togneri
  • Solicitor - Samantha Park

The organisation is divided into:

  • Advice department
  • Training department
  • Legal Services department
  • Policy and Communications department

There are also three projects currently running at Housing Rights Service: