Significant growth' in demand for temporary accommodation

There is a 'significant need' for temporary accommodation, Causeway Coast and Glens councillors have been told.

The issue was raised at last week's full meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Council.

Councillors were updated on the work of the Housing Executive across the district by Grainia Long, Chief Executive, Mark Alexander, Causeway Area Manager and Louise Clarke Head of North Place Shaping.

Members were told that the Housing Executive manages 6,454 social homes, allocated 411 homes, started 144 new social homes and completed 43 new builds all within the Causeway Coast and Glens borough in the period of 2023/4.

It was also confirmed that there will be 664 new builds planned for the period of 2024/27.

In terms of waiting lists in the area in March 2024 there were 3,758 applicants and 2,296 in Housing Stress (61%).

Housing Executive boss Grainia Long told members that there is a 'relentless' need for temporary accommodation.

She said: “There is a relentless need and rightly so for temporary accommodation locally, this is not only unique to this borough but across Northern Ireland. Every council area is different in terms of demand but we continue to see since the pandemic a significant growth in the demand for temporary accommodation.

“We are continuing to work hard in reducing the number of placements in non standard or what we call hotel accommodation. We have a target to make sure that we are not placing families with children in hotels, if we do have to do so then it is for as short a period as possible.

“We are constantly looking to update our temporary accommodation portfolio and where we can add on properties to this then we certainly will do.”

Ms Long added: “There has been some difficulty in contracting this year for houses that require adaptations due to tenant illness or disability.

“We have a few delays on this which we are working our way through.”

Limavady-based Alliance councillor Amy Mairs said the issue of homelessness seems to be 'skyrocketing' and what the Housing Executive is doing to combat it.

Cllr Mairs said: “As a young person myself I have seen so many young people under the age of 25 affected by homelessness.

“So to put it bluntly, what are the Housing Executive doing to help those who are younger and are dealing with the issue of homelessness because it just seems as if it is skyrocketing at the minute.”

Responding Ms Long said the Housing Executive has launched a new action plan to help deal with homelessness among young people. She said: “The needs of young people are distinctly unique and so last week we launched the first youth action plan that the Housing Executive has ever had.

“We have never needed this before but over the last number of years the distinct needs of young people in relation to their homelessness has made us focus on that. So two years ago we appointed a colleague whose sole role is youth homelessness.

“She works very closely with health and youth justice colleagues and a range of other agencies.

“The action plan came about due to those partnerships within the statutory sector. The plan is very focused on what we will deliver for young people.

“One of the main points is the importance of the inclusion of youth champions across the Housing Executive offices so that we will have professionals who are able to provide distinct advice to young people.

“There will be a focus on prevention and early intervention in place as quickly as possible.”

Sinn Fein councillor Kathleen McGurk questioned how accurate the waiting lists are. She cited an example when she asked for the waiting list in her area to be told that one of the villages was 'sitting at zero', however Cllr McGurk said that following a social media post she discovered a number of people currently waiting for a home.

“To me that shows that we have an issue there in terms of accuracy.”

Cllr McGurk also said there is an issue with late in demand testing.

Ms Long responded to the concerns of Cllr McGurk.

She said: “We are always open to continuing having these discussions and debates as rightly we should do in relation to how we measure need, and undertake late in demand tests. What seems like a large level of need in a particular area often results in what feels like a smaller output.”

Louise Clarke, Head of North Place Shaping added: “We do everything that we can to rely on the data we use being as accurate as possible. That's not to say that it sometimes won’t reflect the entirety of the picture that you have reflected to us at the minute.”