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The shortage of social housing in Northern Ireland has reached a critical point, prompting urgent calls for intervention. Colm Gildernew, who chairs Stormont’s Communities Committee, emphasized the pressing need to address this issue. Despite previously announced plans by the Executive to allocate £115 million towards new social housing projects set for 2026, recent data reveal a stark contrast in the immediate budget, showing only £3 million available for tackling housing needs.
Concerns have been raised regarding the apparent delay in the Department for Communities’ efforts to implement programs that would increase social housing stock. Gildernew highlighted the ongoing struggle against homelessness, noting that the government currently spends £40 million annually on temporary accommodations. He underscored the lack of progress following last year’s announcement to purchase 600 homes aimed at reducing these costs, stating that not a single home has yet been acquired—a situation he insists demands urgent departmental action.
At a recent committee meeting, John Greer from the DfC acknowledged the challenges faced by the minister, mentioning the tough choices ahead. The department’s permanent secretary has indicated that a proposal is being prepared for executive consideration focused on utilizing public sector estates, an initiative Gildernew supports as a potential part of the solution. In Northern Ireland, social housing is generally developed by non-profit housing associations with funding from the Department for Communities.
Despite these plans, the existing targets fall short of the ambitions set out in Stormont’s Programme for Government, which aims to commence the construction of at least 5,850 new social homes by 2027. Gildernew described the situation as undeniably difficult for the Department for Communities and other departments across the Executive, stressing that the information shared at the committee raised serious concerns. He urged that housing and homelessness must remain a central focus, given the significant challenges faced across the region
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