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A lack of housing in Northern Ireland has sparked racial tensions, according to the communities minister. Gordon Lyons, responsible for housing oversight, acknowledged the concerns within communities over the housing shortage. He stated that some individuals have been waiting for social housing for “years” while asylum seekers are provided with accommodation in their neighborhoods. As of June 2025, the Home Office reported that 2,228 people were residing in “dispersal” accommodation, which is managed by private operators on behalf of the government.
Lyons explained that this type of housing is often located in cheaper communities and is not evenly distributed across Northern Ireland. He highlighted the pressure on already deprived areas due to the concentration of such accommodations. The streets of Ballymena in County Antrim recently experienced a series of violent disorder incidents, described by authorities as “racist thuggery.” A Home Office representative mentioned efforts to reduce spending on hotel accommodations by making faster asylum decisions and returning individuals with no legal right to stay.
Louise McCullough, chairperson of east Belfast community charity Elevate East, emphasized the close relationship between the housing situation and various social issues. She stressed that the housing problem is not only about one family receiving a house; it is about the overall scarcity of housing in the region. McCullough called for urgent action to address Northern Ireland’s housing crisis, highlighting the need for better decision-making regarding housing construction. Lyons indicated that he is exploring various options to enhance housing availability, including utilizing surplus public sector land for social housing construction.
In a report by the BBC, it was noted that the Northern Ireland Executive aims to initiate work on approximately 1,000 new social homes this year, falling short of the target set in the Programme for Government. The target was to begin work on at least 5,850 new-build social homes by 2027, equating to around 2,000 new building projects annually. However, due to budget constraints, the number of homes started this year is expected to be lower than the previous year, despite the significant number of households on the social housing waiting list in Northern Ireland
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