‘SOCIAL INEQUALITY’
CATHOLICS WAITING LONGER FOR HOUSES THAN PROTESTANTS, NEW REPORT REVEALS
CATHOLICS are continuing to experience the longest waiting times for social housing in Northern Ireland, according to a new report by the Equality Commission (ECNI).
The study of housing inequalities in Northern Ireland reveals that Catholics are waiting six months longer than Protestants for social housing.
According to the report, social housing waiting lists for 20042009 and for 2013/14 show that Catholics experienced “the longest median waiting times for social housing at the point of allocation in Northern Ireland”.
While the wait for social housing increased for all, “more substantive” increases were seen in households identified as Catholic or ‘other’.
Between 2004 and 2009, the average waiting list time for Catholic households was eight months, compared with six months for ‘other religion’ households and six months for Protestants. But by 2013/14, the wait had nearly doubled for Catholics to 15 months, while ‘other religion’ households had more than doubled to 13 months. The wait for Protestants had increased by a third to nine months.
The longest wait for Catholics was in west Belfast (28 months) followed by 27 months in south Belfast, 22 months in Ballymena and 15 in east Belfast.
The ECNI statement also warns of limited access to “appropriate accommodation for Irish travellers” and that ethnic minority and migrant homes “may be vulnerable to racial attacks” with an increase in criminal damage crimes with a racist motivation between 2013/14 and 2015/16.
The Statement On Key Inequalities In Housing And Communities In Northern Ireland, published today, identifies inequalities suffered by the disabled, such as the fact that “those with a learning disability are not always afforded an opportunity to live independently”. It says there is evidence of housing inequality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Equality Commission chief executive Dr Evelyn Collins said that despite progress there is “compelling evidence” that work needs to be done to address inequalities.
She said: “Ensuring that everyone has access to a sustainable, secure home and enjoys the right to independent living; that the specific housing needs of particular equality groups are addressed; and the development of shared, safe communities are essential building blocks to a successful, flourishing Northern Ireland. A revised Programme for Government should provide an opportunity to develop actions to address inequalities.”
Land & Property Service data shows there are 18,553 empty residential properties across Northern Ireland. A Department for Communities spokeswoman said reasons could include the house being for sale, repossession, or inability to contact a derelict property’s owner. An NIHE spokesman said that, as of March 31, 2017, there were 16,743 Catholics (44.5%) and 12,509 Protestants (33.3%) on its housing wait list. “In our experience, members of the Catholic community tend to apply for social housing in high demand areas with low turnover and limited opportunities for further development,” she said. “There are 892 Housing Executive properties empty currently; 540 of these are properties undergoing repairs or being used for decanting. A further 128 are awaiting allocation and 161 are difficult to let.”