People Before Profit Cllr Eamonn McCann,
“The threat to the Housing Executive from Stormont has now become urgent.
Tens of thousands of people across the North, and indeed across the whole island, are desperate to have a house to turn into a home.
Disgracefully, Derry and Strabane has the highest level of homelessness across the North.
The Housing Executive has been systematically downgraded by Stormont in favour of unaccountable Housing Associations and blocked from the funding it needs to properly renovate its existing stock and to take the lead in building desperately needed new homes. The embargo must end.
We are calling on everyone to make saving the Housing Executive a priority. Passing motions of support count for nothing if it isn’t backed up with action in Stormont. We need to see policy action now by all those who profess to be in favour of defending the Housing Executive.”
Motion to be proposed by People Before Profit at the full meeting of the Derry and Strabane Council tomorrow:
“Council notes its alarm at the refusal of Tory Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to support legislation requiring private landlords to make their properties ‘fit for human habitation’.
Council supports the ‘right to a decent home’, contained in the New Decade, New Approach document.
Council is alarmed that the Foyle area has the highest number of homeless in the North.
There is a housing crisis across Ireland and Council supports campaigns for affordable housing for all.
Council calls upon Stormont to immediately give the Housing Executive the ability to take the lead in building the houses we need across the district.”
Urgent Action Needed To Save The Housing Executive
