29 Aug 2024
Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis: CIH Northern Ireland launches urgent call to action in new report
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland is today launching a comprehensive new report, An agenda for change : tackling the housing and homelessness crisis. This critical document outlines a series of strategic policy priorities aimed at addressing the housing and homelessness challenges facing Northern Ireland. As part of this effort, CIH Northern Ireland has directly engaged with ministers, urging immediate action on several fronts to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
The report identifies several urgent issues, including the need to accelerate Northern Ireland’s progress towards net-zero housing, secure sustainable capital financing for housing development, and address infrastructure challenges that threaten future housing growth.
Key asks of the report
1. Net-zero housing:
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland without a dedicated fund for housing decarbonisation. The report calls for the urgent establishment of such a fund to reduce carbon emissions in the housing sector, including investment in energy-efficient homes and retrofitting existing housing stock. This is essential not only for meeting environmental targets but also for ensuring that residents benefit from lower energy costs and healthier living environments.
2. Adequate capital funding:
The report emphasises the urgent need for substantial increases in capital funding dedicated to housing. CIH Northern Ireland advocates for reversing recent budget cuts and expanding the social housing development programme. It highlights the long-term economic benefits of investing in housing, including job creation, improved health outcomes, and reduced public expenditure on emergency housing solutions.
3. Infrastructure development:
The current structure of NI Water is highlighted as a significant barrier to unlocking essential investment in infrastructure. The report urges the government to explore potential reforms that would enable NI Water to access the capital needed to support future housing developments and infrastructure projects. Addressing this issue is crucial to meeting the growing demand for housing across Northern Ireland.
Justin Cartwright, national director of CIH Northern Ireland, emphasised the urgency of these issues, stating: “The housing and homelessness crisis requires bold, immediate action, and this manifesto report lays out a clear roadmap for government to overcome the identified challenges.
“Accelerating progress towards net-zero homes and addressing the budget challenges that threaten our housing ambitions are essential to be able provide the homes needed. Resolving Northern Ireland’s housing crisis will require cross government support and action. CIH NI is committed to working with the minister for communities and the minister for infrastructure to implement the measures recommended within the report.”
In line with the report’s recommendations, CIH Northern Ireland has written directly to the minister for communities, Gordon Lyons MLA, expressing concern over Northern Ireland’s sluggish progress towards net-zero housing. The letter highlights the critical need for the Department for Communities to prioritise this issue.
CIH Northern Ireland has also reached out to the minister for infrastructure, John O'Dowd MLA, regarding the pressing issue of NI Water’s current structure. The letter requests information on how the Department for Infrastructure is prioritising the exploration of reforms to NI Water’s financial and operational models. This is seen as a vital step towards unlocking the investment needed to support both housing and broader infrastructure development in Northern Ireland.
In addition to direct ministerial engagement, copies of the report have been sent to all Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). CIH Northern Ireland will also be actively promoting the report and its key findings at the upcoming autumn political party conferences in Northern Ireland, ensuring that housing remains at the forefront of the political agenda.
Copies of the letters sent to Government can be found here:
