The Strangford MLA said: “Cutting the amount of money to build new homes is a knee-jerk reaction to budget pressures, yet the Minister continues to invent grants for his own personal pet projects.
“The Department for Communities Housing Supply Strategy was supposed to deliver a targeted number of new builds to address the number of people who do not have a permanent home and are living in temporary accommodation. This target is not being met, despite housing being a priority of the Programme for Government.
“This reduction in grant will reduce the number of new builds at a time when we are facing a housing supply crisis and drive up the number of people who are without a permanent home. This is not just reckless, but inhumane.
“As the Simon Community confirms in their Hidden Homelessness report, there are upwards of 110,000 people in Northern Ireland who are homeless. This figure includes a growing number of children who are growing up in temporary accommodation. Additionally, the NI Audit Office reported earlier this year, confirming ‘a lack of social housing supply is a key issue, hampering attempts to tackle homelessness’.
“In addition to cutting housing grants, the Minister has also claimed that changing the design of homes to remove accessibility and reducing the number of accessible homes will save money. This is a cruel and short-sighted money-making scheme, in an ageing society where age-related disability and illness reduce mobility, requiring more accessible homes.
“We are currently in the midst of a housing crisis and everyone in Northern Ireland deserves a permanent roof over their head. The Minister must seriously reconsider his priorities, and instead of further disadvantaging the most vulnerable in our society, take action to ensure that his department can meet our housing targets and provide for those who need safe and suitable homes.”
“The Department for Communities Housing Supply Strategy was supposed to deliver a targeted number of new builds to address the number of people who do not have a permanent home and are living in temporary accommodation. This target is not being met, despite housing being a priority of the Programme for Government.
“This reduction in grant will reduce the number of new builds at a time when we are facing a housing supply crisis and drive up the number of people who are without a permanent home. This is not just reckless, but inhumane.
“As the Simon Community confirms in their Hidden Homelessness report, there are upwards of 110,000 people in Northern Ireland who are homeless. This figure includes a growing number of children who are growing up in temporary accommodation. Additionally, the NI Audit Office reported earlier this year, confirming ‘a lack of social housing supply is a key issue, hampering attempts to tackle homelessness’.
“In addition to cutting housing grants, the Minister has also claimed that changing the design of homes to remove accessibility and reducing the number of accessible homes will save money. This is a cruel and short-sighted money-making scheme, in an ageing society where age-related disability and illness reduce mobility, requiring more accessible homes.
“We are currently in the midst of a housing crisis and everyone in Northern Ireland deserves a permanent roof over their head. The Minister must seriously reconsider his priorities, and instead of further disadvantaging the most vulnerable in our society, take action to ensure that his department can meet our housing targets and provide for those who need safe and suitable homes.”