The Northern Irish social housing waiting list has grown over the past year with over 45,000 people waiting for a home.
There are currently 45,105 people who are on the housing waiting list, which has increased by nearly 600 people in the past year with there being 44,426 in March 2022.
The past year has also seen a rise in the numbers of people considered to be living in housing stress, with 32,633 people being reported at the end of March 2023 and 31,407 in March 2022.
Read more: Housing Executive tenants face months of delays for new properties in Mid and East Antrim
The Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations says that this shows the need to invest in the creation of more social housing, despite a record year for the completion of new homes in 2022/23, when 1,449 properties were built and construction started on 1,956.
Addressing the quarterly figures, Seamus Leheny, Chief Executive of NIFHA, said “Once again we have seen a rise in the number of people needing social housing and more who are in extreme housing need. On top of that we have seen that private sector rental prices are rising faster here than anywhere else in the UK, making the only viable financial option of housing social housing.
“Last year, housing associations showed that they can deliver on targets, and that the social housing development programme budget can be fully utilised to get new homes built. The figures published today only reinforce the need to invest even more in building new social housing in our cities, towns and villages.
“We have to be serious about reducing the number of families living in unsuitable accommodation. We need housing solutions. Solutions which ensure more homes are built in the areas of need and that overcome planning delays and infrastructure issues.
"Housing associations are ready to play their part and take on the difficult issues, but we need to ensure that the political will is in place and that the financial commitment is made through the housing budget to support these essential new homes.”
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