SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan
Speaking in the Assembly following a motion on Homelessness Awareness Week 2024, the MLA for Foyle said: “Homelessness is a growing reality for thousands of families across the North.
“Yet the perennial and often unseen story of homelessness and lack of security that comes with it remains the most prevalent issue in terms of my constituency casework.
“While many of us are excitedly preparing for the Christmas countdown, others are facing the harsh reality of simply keeping a roof over their heads.
“Demand for temporary accommodation has seen a record-breaking demand of 4,500 households this weekend – within these households are over 5,000 children.
“Thousands of children, who have nowhere to hang their stockings, worried if Santa will know where to find them this year.
“The Executive’s failure to address this crisis has made the lives of thousands of children portable, unstable – moving from hotel to B&B, unable to put down roots.
“No space of their own to do their homework, living out of suitcases, no friends in the street to ‘call in for’.
“Building families and societies on such unstable footing has left an entire generation without ‘their village’ and support networks from which they can build their lives.
“We live in a society where obtaining an emergency placement in your hometown or sometimes even at all, has become a luxury.
“I’ve sought assurances from the Communities Minister that he will work to ensure no family is forced from emergency placements over the Christmas period.
“Homelessness in any society is a marked failure of governance.
“This Executive has failed to stem a £34m spend on temporary accommodation, slashed funding for homelessness prevention services and implemented the largest cut to the social housing build budget in a generation.
“Tackling homelessness and its root causes is not the sole responsibility of one department.
“We need to see buy-in across government departments; including ensuring access to adequate health services, preventing homelessness, and resolving water infrastructure challenges to expedite the delivery of homes already in the pipeline.
“Ultimately, tackling the housing emergency hinges on the political will of Ministers and the wider Executive.
“It’s a sobering reflection on the state of leadership in this country that the most sought after children’s gift this Christmas, will be a place to call home.”
Tags: