66 homeless but nonew homes planned

The Minister revealed the extent of homelessness and housing stress in the Londonderry estate when quizzed about the problem at Stormont.

He revealed there were 67 applicants on the waiting list for the Strathfoyle Common Landlord Area of Londonderry.

Twenty-nine of these were registered as homeless and 37 were said to be under housing stress.

The Housing Executive has recognised the problem to some extent advising that the most recent housing need assessment projected a need for five units over the five year period to 2016.

Notwithstanding this and despite last week’s revelation in the Sentinel that private landlords increased their profits from homelessness in Londonderry three fold in the past five years - the increase is seven hold in the Waterside - there are no plans for new social houses in Strathfoyle.

Mr McCausland stated: “At present there are no schemes listed on the Social Housing Development Programme for this area. Strathfoyle is listed on the Housing Executive’s unmet need prospectus with an unmet need of five units.

“This prospectus is published to assist Housing Associations concentrate their search for sites in areas where housing need remains unmet.”

Although no new schemes are planned for Strathfoyle the Minister did reveal there have been over a hundred allocations in the area over the past five years.

The number of social housing allocationss in the Strathfoyle area were as follows: 2008/9 (29); 2009/10 (27); 2010/11 (43); 2011/12 (15); 2011/12 (10).

Equally, there were 30 new social housing starts in the Waterside District Office area between 2009/10 and 2011/12.

But the Minsiter stated: “As yet no new social housing units have gone on site in the Waterside District Office area in 2012/13.”

Whilst Strathfoyle is not scheduled for any new social houses at present there are plans for 68 units across the Waterside including at Bonds Hill, Nelson Drive, Ardmore, Gransha and Gobnascale.

In 2012/13 Apex Housing has plans for six new units under phases two and three of Ashleywood House, Ardmore. It also plans six new units at Bonds Hill.

During the same year Trinity plans to build 13 new units at Nelson Drive and there are also plans for 14 new units at Cedar Villa.

In 2013/14 Clanmil have plans for seven units at Foxhill, whilst in 2014/15 Clanmil will build a further nine units at Foxhill. There are also plans for 13 new units at Nelson Drive.

Housing need in Strathfoyle is one of seven strategic points that the Enagh Youth Forum believes needs to be addressed to tackle social exclusion in the area.

The Forum says the Housing Executive Shared Community Programme 2013 should be used to help build community cohesion with all groups working in the Strathfoyle area.

The Forum also wants a number of derelict butterfly houses at Clonmeen Drive to be developed into a ‘Youth Support Hub.’

The proposals are amongst seven identified by the group, which also wants a secure children’s play park and Multi-Use Games Area; the completion of the Strathfoyle Greenway cycle and foot path; the development of the ‘Auld School’ for shared community use by all local groups; the completion of the Dual Carriageway on Clooney Road; and the controlled development of Enagh Lough for canoeing/kayaking.

“We at Enagh Youth Forum believe strongly that the seven strategic points listed, if implemented would increase the capacity of Strathfoyle in terms of accessibility and services and tackling social exclusion and rural isolation in the Enagh Ward.

“These strategic points will become the basis of Enagh Youth Forum’s arguments and will become a catalyst to deliver this action plan for the betterment of Strathfoyle and holding our elected reps and statutory bodies to account over the next 12 months,” a spokesperson stated.