Sugden: Families in East Derry trapped in temporary housing crisis

Claire Sugden MLA has warned that East Derry is facing a deepening housing crisis, with thousands of people recognised as homeless and many forced to live for months or even years in temporary accommodation.

“Housing is the single biggest issue people bring to my office. Right now, 2,012 people in East Londonderry are recognised as homeless under Full Duty Applicant status. This means they have passed every homelessness test and the Housing Executive has accepted a legal duty to house them. Yet they still cannot get a permanent home. That is unacceptable.”

“Families are being placed miles away from schools, jobs, and support networks. They are often in unsuitable housing such as hotels, B&Bs or short-term lets that were never designed for long-term living. Parents tell me about the impact this has on their children, who are trying to do homework from a hotel room. People are exhausted and their mental health is suffering. I see this every day in my office.”

“The north coast is a popular place to live and visit, which is something we should be proud of. But the number of properties being used as second homes or short-term holiday lets reduces the housing available for local families. This adds to the already long waiting lists and puts extra pressure on the housing system. We cannot ignore this when we talk about solutions.”

“People come to me at breaking point. They want nothing more than the security of a permanent home, but instead they are stuck in temporary accommodation for years. It robs families of stability, dignity and peace of mind. This is not a sustainable system and it is not good enough for East Londonderry,” Ms Sugden said.

“We need a housing system that works. One that delivers permanent homes, reduces waiting lists, and ensures no family is left languishing in temporary accommodation. This is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about people’s lives. Until we treat housing as a basic right and invest in it accordingly, the crisis will only deepen.”