Lack of social housing accommodation in Derry resulting in people suffering problems with mental health

By Gareth Cross [email protected]

The lack of social housing accommodation in Derry has resulted in people suffering mental health problems, according to a local councillor.

Independent councillor Darren O'Reilly said that the stress of housing issues was making people ill, at a council meeting in the Guildhall.

It also emerged at the meeting that around 50 per cent of the people on the Housing Executive's waiting list in the council area are single.

Representatives from the Housing Executive were making a presentation to council's Governance and Strategic Planning Committee on the new Housing Executive Housing Investment Plan.

At the meeting Housing Executive representatives told council that there were a number of key housing issues in the Derry and Strabane area going forward.

Council heard that there were 4,360 applicants for social housing in the last year, with 3,126 of these people (72 per cent) considered to be in housing stress, an increase of five per cent on last year.

The representatives told the meeting that 1,936 households presented as homeless last year with 1,223 (63 per cent) being accepted as homeless – a one per cent increase on last year. The meeting was told that there were 725 social housing allocations in the Derry and Strabane area in 2016/17.

Councillors was told that 2,552 new homes were needed over the next five years, while 1,161 new homes were planned for the council area over the next three years.

Sinn Fein councillor Colly Kelly paid tribute to Housing Executive staff in Derry saying that they were 'second to none'.

Cllr Kelly questioned the homelessness figures saying he believed they were 'not accurate'.

He raised the issue of temporary housing in Derry saying that it had been an issue 'for years'.

Homes are allocated based on need with people being allocated points depending on their situations.

Cllr Kelly said that people who find themselves temporary accommodation do not receive the same points as those who are allocated it.

Addressing the need for housing in Derry Cllr Kelly said that the waiting lists and homelessness figures were only going to get longer as not enough houses were being built over the next five years.

Cllr Kelly also highlighted the lack of bungalow accommodation for the ageing population in the area.

He said that the issues facing the Housing Executive proved that housing in general is 'a crisis'.

UUP Alderman Derek Hussey said that he had been involved in local government since 1989 and he has seen a deterioration in the housing situation over that period. SDLP councillor Brian Tierney queried the number of two bed properties being built in Derry.

He suggested that three bed properties would be the minimum required for most families.

Meanwhile, Independent councillor Gary Donnelly described the housing situation in Derry as 'dire'.

Cllr Donnelly said that he knew of 60 people who were currently looking for accommodation and that the report from the Housing Executive wasn't giving him 'great hope'.

Independent councillor Darren O'Reilly (pictured above) said the system discriminated against employed people as landlords would not accept rent paid partly by the tenant and benefits.

Cllr O'Reilly told council he knew of people who were under such stress due to their housing situation that it was affecting their mental health.

He said the issue was 'making people sick due to the stress'.

DUP Alderman David Ramsey said that he was aware of issues surrounding unoccupied properties and called for the matter to be investigated.

Responding to councillors concerns a Housing Executive spokesperson said bungalows were not considered the best use of limited land resources.

He told council that he was aware of what people considered unfairness around points but that this could only be addressed by legislative change.

Addressing the size of properties being built the spokesperson said that around 50% of people on the waiting list are single people.

He said that the Housing Executive was currently undergoing 'internal change' and it was hoped this would address some of the issues.