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21/03/2002
Report shows NI has the highest rate of homelessness in UK
A recent report has shown that Northern Ireland has the highest ratio of homelessness in the United Kingdom.
The Assembly's independent auditor, which has criticised services provided to the homeless by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) revealed that almost 6,500 were homeless last year.
The report showed the Housing Executive spent an estimated £23.6 million in 2000-2001 on temporary accommodation and other services to the homeless and more than £7 million of that total was spent by the Executive on bed and breakfast accommodation.
The report accused the Executive of "wasting money unnecessarily" through sticking rigidly to rules, and of putting people in private accommodation, which was of a "poor, unhygienic standard".
It said the executive showed an "acute lack of social housing", and an especially high demand in Belfast and parts of the west meant three-year stays in bed and breakfast accommodation were "not uncommon".
The report recommends that a formal prevention strategy should form a key component of any action plans that the Housing Executive put in place following completion of its fundamental review of homelessness services.
Finally the Audit Office examination said that the NIHE needed to move quickly to plug the gaps identified, in order to manage the homelessness service properly and to measure its performance in delivering improvements.
The draft Housing Bill, launched at the start of March by Social Development Minister Nigel Dodds consists of 150 clauses and is one of the biggest pieces of legislation to be considered by the devolved Assembly at Stormont.
The consultation exercise will run until the end of April and will cover the issue of homelessness.
(AMcE)
The Assembly's independent auditor, which has criticised services provided to the homeless by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) revealed that almost 6,500 were homeless last year.
The report showed the Housing Executive spent an estimated £23.6 million in 2000-2001 on temporary accommodation and other services to the homeless and more than £7 million of that total was spent by the Executive on bed and breakfast accommodation.
The report accused the Executive of "wasting money unnecessarily" through sticking rigidly to rules, and of putting people in private accommodation, which was of a "poor, unhygienic standard".
It said the executive showed an "acute lack of social housing", and an especially high demand in Belfast and parts of the west meant three-year stays in bed and breakfast accommodation were "not uncommon".
The report recommends that a formal prevention strategy should form a key component of any action plans that the Housing Executive put in place following completion of its fundamental review of homelessness services.
Finally the Audit Office examination said that the NIHE needed to move quickly to plug the gaps identified, in order to manage the homelessness service properly and to measure its performance in delivering improvements.
The draft Housing Bill, launched at the start of March by Social Development Minister Nigel Dodds consists of 150 clauses and is one of the biggest pieces of legislation to be considered by the devolved Assembly at Stormont.
The consultation exercise will run until the end of April and will cover the issue of homelessness.
(AMcE)
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