Housing Executive hits back in 'wet hostel' row

Northern Housing Executive chiefs hit back tonight in a deepening row over a planned new hostel alcoholics can use in Belfast.

Residents groups have protested over proposals for the old Stella Maris seamans’ refuge in the north of the city, claiming 4,500 people are on a waiting list for homes.

St Patrick’s and St Joseph’s Housing Committee insisted opening a so-called wet hostel at the Garmoyle Street site was unnecessary.

More than 40 hostels and around 660 beds already exist for the homeless in the area, it was claimed.

But Maurice Johnston, the Housing Executive’s Belfast Area Manager tonight accused the group of staging a campaign of misinformation.

Defending the authority’s record on investment in the area, he said housing investment in north Belfast has topped £127m (€186.9m) since 2000.

“In fact more than £65m (€95.7m) has gone into providing 822 new homes, and over 80% of these are in nationalist areas,” he said.

“This is in line with the fact that 82% of applicants on the waiting list in housing stress are from nationalist areas. This year alone a further 429 new homes are scheduled to be built in north Belfast.

“St Patrick’s and St Joseph’s Housing Committee claims that ‘there are 4,500 nationalists on housing waiting lists for north Belfast.’

“In fact there are 1,429 applicants on the waiting list which represents 2,537 people overall.”

Mr Johnston also disputed the number of shelters and beds reckoned to be available.

“There are 10 hostels which provide a total of 150 beds for homeless people in north Belfast,” he stressed.

“There are around 30 people who regularly sleep rough in and around Belfast city centre.

“As the Regional Housing Authority, the Housing Executive has a duty to protect and provide accommodation for all homeless households.

“This duty must include support for rough sleepers who are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

“As a decent society, we must protect our most vulnerable people.”