Housing in Northern Ireland is in crisis. It has been so for many years. Housing is about much more than bricks and mortar. Good quality, affordable housing has a significant bearing on our health, our wellbeing, our life chances and our job prospects. Yet, under the capitalist economy, it is treated as a commodity, is even called a ‘housing market’ and this basic human right is exploited as yet another opportunity to accumulate capital and make profit for the few while failing to guarantee the construction and maintenance of acceptable and affordable housing. Sectarianism also plays a role in the housing crisis. Over 90% of families in public housing live in segregated areas.

Sectarian trade-offs between political parties further exacerbate the crisis and the housing shortage. Only when sectarian parties and paramilitaries are forced to end their dictating of the geography of Northern Ireland can any real progress be made. The State has a clear responsibility to all of its citizens to ensure that, not only is housing provided, but that it is accessible, affordable, of high quality and meets the physical, emotional and recreational needs of the population.

The draft Programme for Government makes vague references to “new funding models for the delivery of more affordable housing” but is short on strategy. The situation demands the immediate building of public housing in Belfast alone; an immediate cap on rents in the private rented sector; the re-establishment of the NI Housing Executive as the lead housing body and a comprehensive and effective strategy to address homelessness.