Housing Bulletin Shows 'Crisis Point'

A Northern Ireland assemblyman has warned the latest Quarterly Housing Bulletin once again highlights the serious problems faced in the provision of social housing.

Sinn Féin's Fra McCann said the bulletin shows a serious lack of social housing being built and the large amounts of people still declaring themselves as being homeless.

"Alongside this there is a huge increase in those having mortgage possession actions taken against them," said the west Belfast MLA.

He suggested the state of housing provision, and responses to deal with those people who have been hit hardest by the economic downturn, is at "crisis point".

"Homelessness figures show that the numbers of people declaring themselves homeless in the first three months of this year remains high at 4,991 just a decrease in 2% from the same period last year.

"On top of this actions for mortgage possessions, which sits at 1,020 for the first three months of this year, a 35.3% increase over last year," said Mr McCann.

He called on the Housing Minister to take action, and stand over her 2007 new housing agenda.

"Margaret Ritchie has done very little from that period to help these people besides holding a consultation and putting some small amount of money towards the advice sector," claimed the MLA.

"The core of the problem remains that without action being taken the increase in the figures will continue."

He added: "The Minister needs to tell us what she proposes to do to deal with this mounting problem. What strategies are in place to tackle these increasing figures? Margaret Ritchie cannot keep refusing to answer the fundamental questions on housing provision."

(PR/JM)