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Northern Ireland housing bodies ‘deeply disappointed’ over missed government pledge
Leading housing bodies in Northern Ireland have written to Stormont expressing concerns over the lack of any specific outcome on housing in its programme for government (PfG).
In a letter to ministers, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA), Housing Rights and the Council for the Homeless said they were “deeply disappointed” by the omission.
Northern Ireland’s devolved government previously committed to developing a PfG “augmented with a new outcome and indicators to provide specific focus on ensuring every household has access to a good-quality, affordable and sustainable home that is appropriate for its needs”.
The pledge was made in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ deal agreed by political parties in Northern Ireland as they formed a new government in January last year following three years of deadlock.
But while housing is mentioned in the draft framework, published in January 2021, it is not one of the nine overarching outcomes which will drive the government’s policies.
The housing bodies’ letter, addressed to first minister Arlene Foster and deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill, said: “We are deeply disappointed that this commitment has not been met in the draft outcomes framework.
“Housing and homelessness have instead been considered only as indicators under other proposed outcomes.”
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Signed by Justin Cartwright, Ben Collins, Janet Hunter and Nicola McCrudden, the letter added: “Ensuring households have access to good-quality, affordable housing is fundamental to achieving an equal and prosperous society where no one is excluded as articulated in the draft outcomes framework.”
The groups have requested a meeting with ministers to discuss their concerns and that the draft outcomes framework be revised to include a specific housing outcome.
They added that the coronavirus pandemic has brought the “importance of ‘home’ and the impact of not having one has been brought into sharp focus”, with homelessness expected to rise, housing need growing and many living in unsuitable housing.
Communities minister Deirdre Hargey told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday: “Housing should be a standalone outcome in the forthcoming programme for government.
“I hope that, on the back of the public consultation, the executive will agree to that in the time ahead.”
A spokesperson for Northern Ireland’s Executive Office said: “The executive is fully committed to tackling the problem of homelessness and working to ensure the provision of suitable housing for all citizens.
“As such, these issues have been identified as key priority areas within the programme for government draft outcomes framework published for consultation, featuring prominently in three of the nine well-being outcomes.”
The spokesperson added that the draft document identifies a number of housing issues as “key priorities”, including tackling homelessness and supporting the provision of new social housing.
A consultation on the draft outcomes framework is open until 22 March.
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