Housing crisis highlighted
The Housing Executive's annual `Housing Conditions Survey' has
revealed that 44,000 homes across the Six Counties are unfit for
habitation - being damp, in disrepair, lacking suitable washing
facilities and with inadequate facilities for food preparation.
The problem is worst in rural areas, with 17.5% of homes in Co
Fermanagh being unfit for habitation compared with 3% in the East
Belfast Castlereagh suburb.
The report suggests that £1.2 billion would be needed to fix
three quarters of the dwellings in need of repair. It also found
that almost half of the homes in need of repair were in private
ownership. The Housing Executive (HE) is due to launch a £7
million investment package.
Meanwhile Mary Nelis, Derry City Councillor and Assembly member,
has criticised the HE's broken promises and delays in starting a
refurbishment programme in the Glenfada Park and Colmcille Court
area of the Bogside.
The work was due to start at the end of the month but this week
the HE announced that work would be delayed until next year.
Nelis said, ``this directly contradicts the assurances we received
only weeks ago.''
The Housing Executive has admitted that the area contains some of
the worst housing stock in the city, with much of it in blatant
need of repair. Nelis said, ``this is the latest episode in an
intolerable saga for the residents. The Housing Executive has a
moral and public responsibility to start work immediately.''
In North Belfast New Lodge woman Martina McGreevy has been
waiting over two and a half years for a move from their damp home
to a bungalow with wheelchair access, but was recently told by
the HE that they would not give her a date for a move. Martina,
who is disabled, and her asthmatic husband are top priority on
the medical waiting list and their case is supported by their
doctors.
A recent report into living conditions in north Belfast
highlighted that fuel poverty was a major concern especially for
children, their parents and the elderly. The report found that
78% of lone parents reduced heating to save money and that 90%
would use more fuel if money was not a concern. The report
stressed that such economic concerns only compound the health
problems generated by damp housing.
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