8 October 1998 Edition
Housing crisis highlighted
The Housing Executive's annual `Housing Conditions Survey' has revealed that 44,000 homes across the Six Counties are unfit for habitation - being damp, in disrepair, lacking suitable washing facilities and with inadequate facilities for food preparation.
The problem is worst in rural areas, with 17.5% of homes in Co Fermanagh being unfit for habitation compared with 3% in the East Belfast Castlereagh suburb.
The report suggests that £1.2 billion would be needed to fix three quarters of the dwellings in need of repair. It also found that almost half of the homes in need of repair were in private ownership. The Housing Executive (HE) is due to launch a £7 million investment package.
Meanwhile Mary Nelis, Derry City Councillor and Assembly member, has criticised the HE's broken promises and delays in starting a refurbishment programme in the Glenfada Park and Colmcille Court area of the Bogside.
The work was due to start at the end of the month but this week the HE announced that work would be delayed until next year. Nelis said, ``this directly contradicts the assurances we received only weeks ago.''
The Housing Executive has admitted that the area contains some of the worst housing stock in the city, with much of it in blatant need of repair. Nelis said, ``this is the latest episode in an intolerable saga for the residents. The Housing Executive has a moral and public responsibility to start work immediately.''
In North Belfast New Lodge woman Martina McGreevy has been waiting over two and a half years for a move from their damp home to a bungalow with wheelchair access, but was recently told by the HE that they would not give her a date for a move. Martina, who is disabled, and her asthmatic husband are top priority on the medical waiting list and their case is supported by their doctors.
A recent report into living conditions in north Belfast highlighted that fuel poverty was a major concern especially for children, their parents and the elderly. The report found that 78% of lone parents reduced heating to save money and that 90% would use more fuel if money was not a concern. The report stressed that such economic concerns only compound the health problems generated by damp housing.
The problem is worst in rural areas, with 17.5% of homes in Co Fermanagh being unfit for habitation compared with 3% in the East Belfast Castlereagh suburb.
The report suggests that £1.2 billion would be needed to fix three quarters of the dwellings in need of repair. It also found that almost half of the homes in need of repair were in private ownership. The Housing Executive (HE) is due to launch a £7 million investment package.
Meanwhile Mary Nelis, Derry City Councillor and Assembly member, has criticised the HE's broken promises and delays in starting a refurbishment programme in the Glenfada Park and Colmcille Court area of the Bogside.
The work was due to start at the end of the month but this week the HE announced that work would be delayed until next year. Nelis said, ``this directly contradicts the assurances we received only weeks ago.''
The Housing Executive has admitted that the area contains some of the worst housing stock in the city, with much of it in blatant need of repair. Nelis said, ``this is the latest episode in an intolerable saga for the residents. The Housing Executive has a moral and public responsibility to start work immediately.''
In North Belfast New Lodge woman Martina McGreevy has been waiting over two and a half years for a move from their damp home to a bungalow with wheelchair access, but was recently told by the HE that they would not give her a date for a move. Martina, who is disabled, and her asthmatic husband are top priority on the medical waiting list and their case is supported by their doctors.
A recent report into living conditions in north Belfast highlighted that fuel poverty was a major concern especially for children, their parents and the elderly. The report found that 78% of lone parents reduced heating to save money and that 90% would use more fuel if money was not a concern. The report stressed that such economic concerns only compound the health problems generated by damp housing.