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The Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum issued stark warning today, as it launched a joint briefing highlighting the potential implications of the draft budget and the draft investment strategy.
The draft budget will have a devastating effect on housing across Northern Ireland, resulting in no new social housing built next year, according to key housing organisations.
The Voluntary Sector Housing Policy Forum (VSHPF) issued the stark warning today, as it launched a joint briefing highlighting the potential implications of the draft Budget and the draft Investment Strategy.
The proposed budget and investment strategy represents a 63% decrease in capital funding which amounts to £896 million. Just £62.4m has been allocated for next year's Social Housing Development Programme. The Forum estimates that this money will only pay for existing commitments, jeopardising the building of new social homes next year.
Sid McDowell CBE, patron of Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland, told local politicians that something must be done.
"With homeless figures continuing to increase and waiting lists growing at a rapid rate we need innovative housing solutions and the budgets to make them happen. Doing nothing is not an option."
Grainia Long, Director of the Chartered Institute of Housing NI said,
'At a time when we need new social housing more than ever, the draft budget misses the opportunity to solve the housing crisis, and actually risks making it worse'.
'The effects of the draft Budget will be seen in real terms on peoples' lives; with a greater number of families on housing waiting lists, with disabled people refused adaptations, and more young people living in temporary accommodation. Gordon Brown has put social housing at the top of his agenda and we urge the Executive to do the same. If action is not taken now, this budget will exacerbate the housing crisis and the most vulnerable people in our society will suffer'.
The forum's overall aim is to enhance the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to make policy responses and influence policy development in housing and homelessness. It does this through facilitating information sharing and dissemination on a range of common housing and homelessness issues, enabling those working on housing policy within the voluntary and community sector to come together on a regular basis to network, share experiences and knowledge and develop policy positions.
The forum also enabling those who don't normally work on policy to have regular access to information and debate on the policy environment which shapes their work.
When appropriate the forum also lobbies and works to develop the capacity of member groups to do so. It also has a role in facilitating communication with public authorities and other key stakeholders.
Organisations represented on the forum include:
For more information the briefing contact Kim.Liggett@cih.org.
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