Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MORE MEN HOMELESS
Shock figures spark ‘perfect storm’ fear
A THIRD of people presenting as homeless last year were single men, official statistics have revealed.
Lack of suitable housing, separation from a partner or family and unemployment were the main causes.
Belfast-based charity The Welcome Organisation said not enough affordable houses were being built.
Chief executive Sandra Moore added: “If you have a mental health issue, if you have a dependency issue, if you for some reason are that bit more vulnerable or you have a chaotic lifestyle you won’t be the tenant of choice.
“Those people are falling through the net. We are heading for a perfect storm.”
The Department for Communities said 18,180 households presented as homeless to the Housing Executive in 2017-18, a decrease of 2% from the previous year. The highest categories were single males (33%) and families (32%).
In total, 11,877 households (65%) were accepted and 4,688 (26%) rejected and 1,837 discharged, meaning they had been housed.
Ms Moore said people’s mental health was being affected and warned: “The situation deteriorates and they become entrenched.” She added homeless people encountered criminal justice, health and educational issues. SDLP councillor Paul Mccusker called for more onebedroom homes to be built.