SDLP Youth: Assembly must address housing crisis

SDLP Youth Member Clare Muldoon has responded to the motion and debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly discussing the affordable housing crisis.

Ms. Muldoon commented after the debate, “It must be one of the main priorities for the Assembly and the relevant Departments to urgently address the issue of the impossible housing market here in Northern Ireland. It was a relief to hear that the parties seemed united in supporting the motion and identified the issues facing young people trying to get onto the property ladder.”

Northern Ireland has one of the fastest growing housing markets with prices soaring over the past years. Average house prices have risen to £200,000 and keep rising.

“SDLP Youth support the Semple Report and its recommendations and we call upon the Assembly to take accountability and ensure that something is urgently done to rectify the situation.

Ms Muldoon continued, “There must be a multi departmental approach to the strategies needed to improve the affordable housing problem. Focus must be placed on several departments, such as, the Department of Finance and Personnel, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Regional Development and the Department of Social Development with the Assembly ensuring that these departments do not drag their feet on this issue.

“With the huge debt that students are now facing when leaving University it seems impossible that they will ever have a chance to get into the housing market. Renting seems to be the only option. We can’t allow young people to be further disadvantaged by allowing the crisis to worsen. Action must be taken now to provide for the future of the young people in Northern Ireland,” she said.