Violence adds to NI homelessness

5 Sep 02
Worsening sectarian violence in north and east Belfast is contributing to homelessness in Northern Ireland. More than 14,000 households presented themselves as homeless last year, compared with fewer than 13,000 in 2000/01 and 11,000 the year before, acc.

06 September 2002

Worsening sectarian violence in north and east Belfast is contributing to homelessness in Northern Ireland. More than 14,000 households presented themselves as homeless last year, compared with fewer than 13,000 in 2000/01 and 11,000 the year before, according to the latest annual report from the Housing Executive.

But nearly 6,000 homes owned by the Housing Executive lie empty, many at 'interface areas' between Catholic and Protestant populations.

Sid McDowell, chair of the Housing Executive, said: 'Housing applicants have choice about where they want to live. People cannot be forced to live where they don't want to live. '

A confidential Northern Ireland Executive report on housing spending has been leaked, concluding that the Department for Social Development has 'overfunded' housing by £95m.

A spokesman for the department added that the report had also stressed 'that housing funding was generally well spent'.

PFsep2002

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