Mr McMurray said: “Homelessness is something no one should have to experience and is a major issue that urgently needs to be tackled in Northern Ireland. As of June, the Newry, Mourne and Down council area alone experienced a 115% increase in people experiencing homelessness since March 2014. In addition to this, there are many more “hidden homeless” people who are not registered with the Housing Executive and who have yet to seek support. 

“Unfortunately, the housing sector is failing to provide adequate accommodation to many of those who are experiencing homelessness due to a lack of resources and social housing. This issue is not exclusive to my own constituency but one that affects people across NI. We simply don’t have nearly enough social homes to accommodate those who are vulnerable and have no place of residence. 

“I recently met with charities and organisations in my constituency, such as MACSNI and The Simon Community, to discuss the very valuable work they do in supporting individuals and families during an extremely vulnerable point in their lives. 

“Nevertheless, it should not fall solely on these organisations to provide shelter and support for those who are homeless. The Housing Executive has a statutory responsibility to provide accommodation and support to people who meet the criteria. However, the Housing Executive is unfortunately facing many pressures due to the lack and inconsistency of funding and is failing to provide adequate support to many of those in need. 

“Homelessness can creep up on anyone on short notice and it’s an issue that needs to be taken a lot more seriously. Factors such as the lack of affordable housing, the cost of living crisis, mental health, debt and shortage of social housing all play a role in exacerbating homelessness. It is time we see a plan that will address these issues and invest in tackling homelessness in NI.”