How volunteers opened up homes for displaced families after Belfast disorder

How volunteers opened up homes for displaced families after Belfast disorder There were at least 507 men, women, and children affected who were helped out by the co-ordinated efforts of civil society and voluntary organisations 17:14, 18 Jun 2026 Over 500 people have been supported by community groups and volunteers over the past week in the wake of disorder across Belfast. The unrest was sparked after footage of a knife attack in North Belfast on Monday, June 8, was shared on social media. The attack left victim, Stephen Ogilvie, with serious injuries. , 30, from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder. In the days following the harrowing attack, many people were threatened, intimidated, and burnt out of their homes by racist attacks across the city. There were at least 507 men, women, and children affected who were helped out by the co-ordinated efforts of civil society and voluntary organisations. The support ranged from the provision of temporary reception centres, assistance with housing applications, the provision of accommodation from hotels or hosts, to grocery deliveries, medicine deliveries, lifts to workplaces, schools and medical appointments, and the opening of community play spaces. At least 142 households have received groceries and top-ups of gas and electricity from community groups. Volunteers have even gone to people's houses when they were under threat to stand in solidarity. Elfie Seymour, Co-ordinator with Anaka Women’s Collective said: “Our response has been built upon the fact that families from asylum and refugee communities know and trust us. We very quickly established a WhatsApp group which enabled us to communicate quickly and link families with support. "Some of us went to families in need directly on the Tuesday and got them out in our own cars while the PSNI watched on. Once the list of addresses started circulating on social media on Wednesday, we co-ordinated several reception centres across the city and many churches and community groups went the extra mile to take people in. "We know from our own work that even when the PSNI did get people out of houses, they didn’t have anywhere to take them - why was there so little input and co-ordination from statutory organisations to help and why has it taken until a week later to publicly see a multi-agency response in Belfast?" Therese Gorman was one of many ordinary people who opened their spare rooms to displaced individuals last week. She said: “I felt so helpless and angry. I googled community groups and came across the Anaka Collective. "I decided to drive down and offer my services, whatever could be of use. A family of six needed safe accommodation, my five children have grown up and moved out, so I offered to help. "Over the next few days I hosted a girl from Somalia, a girl from Nigeria, a lady from South Africa and a family of four from Sudan, including a four year old non-verbal autistic boy. One of my guests said it was both the worst and best day of her life; worst because she feared for her life, best because she met kind people willing to help. "Honestly it was a pleasure and a privilege to host and help out. From my near despair after Tuesday's rioting, I immediately felt lighter and more hopeful once I was able to help." Marissa McMahon, Assistant Director of Participation and the Practice of Rights spoke about the massive task of ensuring displaced families had somewhere safe to stay over a period of several days. She said: "Our staff team along with many other volunteers from Anaka and CATU have worked solidly over the last week to ensure that people have access to accommodation. "On Thursday, Friday, Monday, yesterday and today, we have been helping people who the NIHE has a statutory duty to house and those who by rights should be assisted by Mears. "While we are thankful to members of staff from those organisations who did turn up to help at housing clinics, what we have found is that both the Home Office and the Housing Executive systems have remained extremely inflexible even during what is essentially a crisis situation. "Into that void have stepped local people with spare rooms, sometime hosting multiple families over several nights. People have fundraised to enable us to ensure that no-one has been left without a roof over their head at night." Dr Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin at Glór na Móna in West Belfast opened the centre’s doors to 15 men from Somalia overnight on Wednesday, June 12. On Sunday, over 70 families who had been burnt out and intimidated from their homes came to Glór na Móna for a family day where food and refreshments were provided by Bia Loch Lao and Anam, Caifé na Carraige. He said: "We agreed to open our community space as a sanctuary for those with nowhere to stay and to release a statement publicly announcing this in order to encourage others to do likewise. A realisation is rapidly dawning on all of us that nobody is coming to save us. If we want to resist racism, we need to organise ourselves." Conchúr Mac Adaim from Community Action Tenants’ Union said: "These numbers are likely to be the tip of the iceberg - these are just the families we have helped. There will be plenty more asking for support from local mosques, churches and trades union beyond our network. ‌ "The events of the last week truly are a wake up call for the state. People have seen the sluggishness and lack of reaction in our statutory agencies. They have also seen the best of kindness from volunteers and communities. "The hard work of organising for safe, secure homes for all happens every day, allowing organised communities to respond with meaningful solidarity when our neighbours are affected by racist violence.” Article continues below For all the latest news, visit the homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.