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The WPG believes that housing is a key equality issue that must be addressed as part of wider efforts to eradicate inequality in our society, in all its forms. Access to adequate and affordable housing impacts the degree to which one can fully and equally participate in society. For example, having an address is important for voting and accessing benefits. As highlighted above, levels of housing supply in a society are inextricably linked to rates of homelessness. Therefore, cross-Strategy working should be encouraged between those involved in the development of the Housing Supply Strategy and the Homelessness Strategy.
The WPG supports the ‘whole system’ approach taken by the Department in the draft Housing Supply Strategy. However, the WPG would stress that this commitment must be backed up by continued meaningful engagement over the course of the Strategy with the various sectors that are experts in issues relating to housing supply.
Given the importance of addressing housing supply issues in Northern Ireland, the WPG agrees with Housing Rights NI that a standalone housing outcome should be included in the next Programme for Government (PfG) and that the Strategy should be adopted at an Executive level. This would put a direct responsibility on The Executive Office (TEO) to deliver on the commitments made in the Housing Supply Strategy. It would also ensure that commitments made in the Strategy are honoured through the appropriate allocation of resources.
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