A new housing action committee has been launched in Derry following a series of public meetings involving people with lived experience of the housing crisis and campaigners.
Derry
Housing Action Committee has organised a
'Housing is a Right! march and rally for 1pm on Saturday June, 14, backed by Derry Trades Union Council, UNITE, Unison and NIPSA.
A spokesperson for Derry Housing Action Committee said: "The housing crisis continues to get worse. Record numbers of families and individuals are trapped on the housing waiting list, they are stuck in hotels and in unsuitable temporary accommodation and too many face spiralling rental costs. Stormont has once again announced its social housing build target will be cut in half because of lack of funding.
"In the past, the people of Derry marched to address housing scarcity and unaffordable rents. The Springtown families led the way and the original Derry Housing Action Committee was a heartbeat for the Civil Rights movement," the spokesperson added.
"The damage of Thatcher-led privatisation of social housing has not been undone.
"There are solutions to challenge the housing misery many people face. We need a mass build of social and affordable housing. Rents should be reduced and capped at affordable prices. There are thousands of properties that can be brought back into use as homes. We need to urgently invest in the upgrade of homes to make them healthy and energy efficient. We need to put a stop to extortionate rents and unacceptable housing conditions.
We won't allow migrants and other marginalised groups to be blamed and scapegoated for systemic government failure and unscrupulous housing profiteering. We are urging people from all communities and all parts of the city to join us at 1pm on Saturday June 14th to march from the Waterside Train Station to the Guildhall Square to call upon Stormont to act."
Derry Housing Action Committee supporter Catherine Pollock, a long-time resident of the Fountain Estate in the city said communities deserved "more than inaction and profit-driven policies".
She addded: "Together, we can build a future where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. It’s time for bold, compassionate change - let’s make it happen.
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Gary Donnelly (Independent) said he was currently representing grandchildren and great grandchildren of prominent civil rights activists who marched and campaigned in this City over half a century ago.
"Amongst their demands at that time was the right to a home," said Cllr Donnelly. "Through no fault of their own this new generation now find themselves homeless after being given a notice to quit from their private landlord. With limited options, they are forced to move into the home of elderly parents reminiscent of the days when numerous families shared the same home.
"Those tasked with running this state have failed miserably to deal with the homeless problem in this City. We must demand that individuals and families have a right to adequate housing and shelter. This is fundamental for stability, security, peace, and dignity. I would urge everyone to support this important campaign," he said.
"A warm and affordable home is a basic human right," said Cllr Shaun Harkin (PBP). "However, everyday we hear from individuals and families who are denied this right.
"The housing crisis has spiralled out of control because the Stormont Executive has neglected its responsibility to ensure the adequate provision of social housing and regulate rental charges. We can't allow vulnerable groups to be scapegoated for the failure of government to address the housing crisis. A people power movement is the key to shifting government priorities," he added.
Amie Gallagher from Focus Project said the organisation was talking to women every day whose families could not afford a home.
"Families who struggle to pay their rent or who are living in a house with mould.
"The situation is an emergency. Stormont makes promises but doesn't deliver. We take inspiration from the incredible campaign of the Springtown families and the original campaigners in the Derry Housing Action Committee. It's time to put feet on the street," said Ms Gallagher.
"HMOs are profitable for developers but are not suitable for families who are being priced out of the rental as well as buyers market for family homes," according to a spokesperson for the residents' group Concerned Residents Around Magee (CRAM).
"We need to protect residential areas and ensure there's good quality and affordable housing for all. We got organised to demand a 10% cap on HMOs instead of the Council’s 30% on every street in Derry. We need grassroots action to address the housing crisis," the spokesperson added.
CATU Derry urged the community to "Stand up for your own housing rights and Strengthen your community" by joining Ireland's only all-island tenants union.
