This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6198687.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
MLA 'sit-out' over housing issue MLA 'sit-out' over housing issue
(about 2 hours later)
A politician has been staging a sit-out in east Belfast as he is so "appalled" at the area's lack of social housing.A politician has been staging a sit-out in east Belfast as he is so "appalled" at the area's lack of social housing.
Ulster Unionist assembly member Michael Copeland has been camping outside his constituency office since Tuesday evening.Ulster Unionist assembly member Michael Copeland has been camping outside his constituency office since Tuesday evening.
He said 6,500 people are on the waiting list for this type of housing in the east of the city.He said 6,500 people are on the waiting list for this type of housing in the east of the city.
Mr Copeland, who is also a Castlereagh councillor, said they could be waiting for some time for homes.Mr Copeland, who is also a Castlereagh councillor, said they could be waiting for some time for homes.
"The need for social housing has increased dramatically since developers started paying enormous sums of money for land," Mr Copeland said.
"We have a new development - which is terribly attractive - just round in Templemore Avenue, but the possibility of anyone coming from the streets that were demolished to make way for that development being financially capable of living there now is gone."