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Homeless on rise as prices spiral Homeless on rise as prices spiral
(30 minutes later)
Nearly 5,000 households in Northern Ireland are now homeless, according to a new report. Nearly 10,000 people in Northern Ireland are now homeless, according to a new report.
Spiralling prices and investors have made the homeless, home owners, migrant workers and first-time buyers all vulnerable, the Housing Executive said.Spiralling prices and investors have made the homeless, home owners, migrant workers and first-time buyers all vulnerable, the Housing Executive said.
Housing problems will get worse unless many more affordable houses are built, the executive has warned.Housing problems will get worse unless many more affordable houses are built, the executive has warned.
About 4,782 households are homeless, according to the NI Housing Market Review and Perspectives 2007-2010. About 9,749 people are homeless, according to the NI Housing Market Review and Perspectives 2007-2010.
The report was published on Tuesday, the day before Sir John Semple's final assessment on affordable housing in Northern Ireland was due to be released.The report was published on Tuesday, the day before Sir John Semple's final assessment on affordable housing in Northern Ireland was due to be released.
The NIHE review states that in six months, 523 more households had joined the homeless list. In 2004/05 a total of 17,362 households presented as homeless. In 2005/06, however, the comparable figure was 20,121, an increase of 16%.
It also said the number of first-time buyers had almost halved since 2001.It also said the number of first-time buyers had almost halved since 2001.
"Spiralling house prices, coupled with an extremely active investor market has let to a growing affordability problem throughout Northern Ireland," Paddy McIntyre, chief executive of NIHE, said."Spiralling house prices, coupled with an extremely active investor market has let to a growing affordability problem throughout Northern Ireland," Paddy McIntyre, chief executive of NIHE, said.
"For the first time, average house prices are higher than for the UK as a whole.""For the first time, average house prices are higher than for the UK as a whole."
Housing callHousing call
Mr McIntyre warned that the number of Northern Ireland people classed as facing "housing stress" would keep rising until there was a significant increase in the construction of new, affordable houses.Mr McIntyre warned that the number of Northern Ireland people classed as facing "housing stress" would keep rising until there was a significant increase in the construction of new, affordable houses.
The review shows that 15,700 people on the social housing list are classed as being in "housing stress".The review shows that 15,700 people on the social housing list are classed as being in "housing stress".
David Hanson, minister for Social Development, said the findings were a base for housing policy decisions in a future Northern Ireland Assembly.David Hanson, minister for Social Development, said the findings were a base for housing policy decisions in a future Northern Ireland Assembly.
"The market, in certain ways and at certain times, fails to satisfy the needs of communities."The market, in certain ways and at certain times, fails to satisfy the needs of communities.
"It sometimes fails to meet the minimum standards our society sets for a decent home or fails to produce the necessary quantity of housing impacting most on those who are vulnerable or are just 'starting out'," he said."It sometimes fails to meet the minimum standards our society sets for a decent home or fails to produce the necessary quantity of housing impacting most on those who are vulnerable or are just 'starting out'," he said.