East Belfast Ulster Unionist Party MLA and Communities Spokesperson, Andy Allen MBE, has called on Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey and Infrastructure Minister, John O`Dowd to convene a summit to address the housing crisis in Northern Ireland.

Mr Allen said:

“Earlier this year the Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey announced her commitment to build 100,000 new homes in the next 15 years. To see that only 835 new social homes were completed in the last year is beyond disappointing.

“With the largest recorded rise in rental costs for private rental properties announced for Northern Ireland last month, added to the pressures already faced by almost 50,000 households living on social housing waiting lists, with little prospect of being housed under the current system, it is simply unacceptable for the department to deliver such a small number of social homes.

“The minister must make it clear how she intends to meet her own targets, which many across the housing and community sectors feel are below what is needed to address the growing housing crisis.

“To date, the leadership required to deliver an adequate level of housing to meet growing need has been lacking. I would again call on the housing and infrastructure ministers to convene a summit to address this housing crisis.”