Growing Housing Crisis Leading to Increased Social Problems
East Belfast DUP Councillor and MLA Robin Newton has expressed concerns about the increasing number of NIHE applications for social housing in the east of the city.
Robin Newton said, "I am becoming increasingly anxious for the 1,100 number of applications on the NIHE waiting list and the doubtfulness of many of these families being re-housed. These 1,100 applications represent between four and five thousand people who are presently living in undesirable homes. This does not include the many who are living in poor quality private landlord accommodation and who are just getting on with it because they don’t see the point and have given up. And with only 176 units being built in 2006/07 and 289 units in 2007/08 what hope have we in solving the problems.
"The urgent need for additional public sector homes is partially being created by the price of private sector houses escalating rapidly, with dozens of viewers chasing each property, and making them unaffordable for most young couples and families.
"As constituents visit my office or I call at their homes the worry and stress is obvious. With an inadequate number of homes being built the anxieties and constant worry caused by cramped living conditions is obvious and the pressures are taking a toll. The increasing family pressures will before long boil over and become problems involving the Social Services, family breakdowns and potential increases in the rate of suicides.
"DUP MLAs and Councillors have raised these matters with the NIHE senior management stressing the need for urgent action in the form of additional homes before many more difficult social problems arrive on our doorstep."
