Figures obtained from the Department for Communities highlights that Foyle has among the highest numbers of social housing applicants with overcrowding and sharing points in the North.
Currently 1,390 applicants have points for overcrowding and 2,283 for sharing – SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said these findings while stark are unsurprising.
The Foyle MLA said: “The North West is among highest number of social housing applicants with overcrowding and sharing points across Northern Ireland- that’s according to figures obtained in response to my recent Assembly question on the matter.
“This is nothing short of disheartening and further underscores the high levels of housing need within the city.
“We cannot resign ourselves to the expectation that Foyle will top the charts of every dire statistic.
“It is not good enough.
“Particularly now following a period of lockdown, the implications and difficulties of overcrowded homes, will have no doubt been exacerbated – putting many of these families under enormous strain.
“The numbers of constituents contacting my office for housing support in recent months is testament to these pressures.
“Many of whom are sharing homes with elderly and vulnerable family members – wholly unsuitable circumstances at any time but particularly so in the context of a pandemic.
“Generally, there has been a growth in social housing need here and I fear issues evident in an already struggling system will be compounded by redundancies coming down the line.
“While I appreciate the Communities Minister’s recent commitment to increasing social housing provision in the North West, her words need to be matched by action.
“These households are at breaking point. Families cannot afford to wait any longer.”
