Assembly Opposition motion on homelessness & housing supply

The Assembly has recently debated an Opposition motion on homelessness and housing supply in Northern Ireland.

Homelessness and housing 

The motion was brought to the Assembly by MLAs from the UUP and SDLP:

That this Assembly notes that in June 2016 there were 37,347 households on the social housing waiting list, of which 22,986 were deemed to be in housing stress and 15,474 were deemed to be statutorily homeless; and calls on the Minister for Communities to commit to providing at least 8,800 new build social housing units and 2,900 affordable housing units over the term of the Programme for Government 2016-21. Opposition motion on homelessness and housing supply

In moving the amendment, Nichola Mallon MLA highlighted the fundamental and cross-cutting importance of housing in people’s lives:

There are five human rights that are essential if each of us is to fulfil our potential: the right to food, healthcare, education, work and a home. I have argued, and will continue to do so, that access to a good-quality, safe and secure home is the anchor and the glue that holds the other facets of a person's life together. Having access to a good-quality, safe and secure home increases your life chances multifold, especially when children are involved. Housing is, without doubt, an enabler for health and well-being and it is key to tackling disadvantage, driving economic growth and job creation and building a better environment and a more equal, shared and safe society that respects diversity. Nichola Mallon, SDLP

Amendments suggest that House Sales Scheme be suspended and that the Assembly commit to targets for housebuilding

Fra McCann MLA, of Sinn Féin, proposed an amendment to the motion, which would call on the Executive to suspend the House Sales Scheme, and to enable the Housing Executive to build and invest in new social homes. In speaking for this amendment, Mr McCann noted the abolition of “right to buy” in Scotland, which ended on 31st July this year. Mr McCann also highlighted the vital importance of ensuring new supply to the sector, to address the housing crisis and reduce waiting lists.

Jonathan Bell MLA, of the DUP, then proposed a second amendment. This amendment referred to the Minister for Communities’ plans to deliver 9,600 new social homes, and 3,750 new affordable homes, between 2016 and 2021. In speaking for the amendment,  Mr Bell emphasised the importance of delivering on housing in the devolved context.

The house then heard from several other Members. Andy Allen UUP referred to research by Crisis on the rate of homelessness in Northern Ireland, and the public savings which investment in housing could deliver, whilst Naomi Long of the Alliance Party emphasised the importance of developing mixed-tenure housing and utilising dormant housing stock in Northern Ireland. The Minister for Communities then responded to the motion by emphasising his commitment to delivering new social housing across the Assembly mandate, before Jenny Palmer of the UUP closed the debate.

The motion and amendments were then voted on. The amendment, calling for the suspension of the House Sales Scheme brought by Sinn Féin fell.  The DUP amendment referencing targets for the supply of new social and affordable homes passed, and the following motion was endorsed by the Assembly:

That this Assembly notes that, in June 2016, there were 37,347 households on the social housing waiting list, of which 22,986 were deemed to be in housing stress and 15,474 were deemed to be statutorily homeless; further notes the Executive’s success in exceeding the last Programme for Government target by providing 7,669 new social homes and 4,685 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2016; and acknowledges the plans of the Minister for Communities to deliver 9,600 new social homes and 3,750 new affordable homes between 2016 and 2021. Final motion, endorsed by the NI Assembly