SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has said that the Executive has totally failed to get to grips with rising homelessness across the North.
He was speaking after an NI Audit Office report outlined the scale of the crisis.
Mark H Durkan MLA said: “This report is a damning account of the Executive’s apathy and ineptitude on housing. For the past few years I have called on multiple Communities Ministers and the Housing Executive to get a handle on spiralling emergency accommodation costs.
“While I appreciate the need to get a roof over one’s head, the persistent failure to adequately fund homelessness prevention year after year has driven demand to the point where it consumes over half of the total homelessness expenditure.
“It’s madness to pour money into such an unsustainable and short-term fix. Meanwhile, homelessness figures have never been higher.
“It’s evident from this report that government strategies have failed, either inadequately funded or, others like the Empty Homes Strategy, completely abandoned.
“Social housing targets are not being met and while we welcome the Housing Supply Strategy, it’s just words on paper, meaningless without funding.
“The Executive’s repeated failure to get a handle on the housing emergency has resulted in a generation of children growing up in hotel and B&B accommodation. What was once a last resort seems now to be the only resort.
“We’ve witnessed the consequences of lacking meaningful targets, yet the Executive continues to follow the same directionless approach, with no accountability for delivering results.
“Later this week the SDLP Opposition will be publishing our own proposals to tackle the housing emergency and homelessness, in stark contrast to Executive inaction.
“The approach to homelessness must prioritise people, guaranteeing access to essential services and support.
“It must look towards long term solutions, deliver sustained investment and improve access to affordable homes.”
