Andrew McMurray MLA spoke in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday, praising local organisations that serve people who experience homelessness in South Down.
The Alliance MLA said:
“I was given the opportunity to speak in the Assembly about an issue of importance to my constituency this week and I decided to raise the problem of homelessness and the many challenges organisations in this sector are facing.
“As of June, there were 5447 statutory homeless people in Newry, Mourne and Down, the third highest number out of the eleven council areas in Northern Ireland. This number of people has increased by 115% since March 2014, an increase of 2911 people. In addition to these, there are many more who are not registered with the Housing Executive but could be described as “hidden homeless”. These are people who may be staying with friends on a temporary basis or sleeping in their car or at their workplace but have yet to seek support from the Housing Executive. Whether hidden or not, each and every one of these people is an individual who is going through a very difficult time in their lives and deserves every support they can get.
“I want to pay tribute to the charities and organisations working in this sector and the very valuable work they do in supporting men, women, young people, and families in South Down at an extremely vulnerable point in their lives. I also want to thank them for taking the time to speak to me in preparation for this debate and to share their experiences and concerns with me. It’s been eye-opening.”
MACSNI, in Downpatrick and Newry, among other locations, provide supported housing and a range of other support services for children and young people aged 16-25 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, or are struggling in other ways. The Simon Community operate hostels in Downpatrick and Newry, among other locations, where they offer temporary accommodation and support to people presenting as homeless. The Housing Executive has a statutory responsibility to provide accommodation and support to people who meet the criteria to be considered statutory homeless. It also has offices in Downpatrick and Newry.
McMurray added, “These organisations provide a roof over the head for people who are experiencing homelessness, but they also provide invaluable personal support, which is so important to help people move on and successfully sustain a tenancy in the future.
“Unfortunately, the sector faces many pressures. We don’t have nearly enough social housing, or even temporary accommodation, and people often have to make due with accommodation that doesn’t meet their needs. Many people also stay in temporary accommodation for much longer than one would hope. Another challenge is that the sector faces serious staffing shortages, which again has to do with lack of funding. We need to make sure that these very valuable but challenging roles are adequately paid going forward.”
“A positive thing is that we have a very broad definition of homelessness in Northern Ireland and people may qualify for support even if they have a roof over their heads – homelessness is much more than rough-sleeping. I would urge anyone who is experiencing homelessness or fears that they might become homeless soon to contact the Housing Executive at their earliest opportunity. They can also come to my constituency office in Market Lane, Downpatrick, where my staff will assist them as best they can.”
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