Member's statement: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: Homelessness
Member's statement by Mr Cathal Boylan on .
- MLA
- Mr Cathal Boylan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 25 November 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: Homelessness
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5258631
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I want to take my time today to highlight homelessness in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area. Like the constituency offices of all MLAs, my office is often contacted by those who are most in need of housing but continue to find themselves grappling with the crisis of housing supply versus overall need. Every time that such a person comes through our office doors, we see the insecurity and indignity of becoming homeless, which is often not spoken about even though it can have a detrimental and traumatic effect on those who are impacted. The Housing Executive's 2025 update for the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council area shows that, of a total of 4,148 applications for social housing, 2,760 were lodged by people who are in housing stress. The people who are on housing waiting lists deserve not only a home but the correct support in the here and now. Therefore, I welcome the work of my colleague Colm Gildernew, who intends to introduce a private Member's Bill on homelessness prevention. Extending the time for which the Housing Executive should support people is a positive move to ensure that those who are at most risk of becoming homeless are supported. Not just in Armagh but across the board, everyone recognises the need to build more social and affordable houses, increase the overall supply of homes and work towards tackling homelessness and supporting those who rely on temporary accommodation. As the Minister responsible for housing, the Communities Minister must step up to deliver more social and affordable homes. My party colleagues and I will continue to work with our local Housing Executive staff, housing associations, others across the Assembly and the Executive to ensure that we see the delivery of the housing supply that is needed, including in Newry and Armagh.
303 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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