The demonstration, which took place on Friday morning, 29 June, saw participants supporting the demand for the construction of new social and 'affordable' homes.
With 11,276 families on the housing waiting list in Belfast and only 2,300 homes planned to be built, Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Carál Ní Chuilín has called upon officials in Belfast City Council, the Housing Executive and the Department of Communities to sit down with campaigners to tackle the growing inequality around housing.
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"We are in the midst of a housing crisis right across Ireland," she said.
"Families are calling home, a hotel or hostel, this is degrading and unacceptable. Here in the North, there are over 20,000 people in housing stress and here in Belfast, there are 11,276 families on the housing waiting list, with plans to build only 2,300 homes. This is compounded by some of the discriminatory practices that still exist here.
"What is clear from this morning’s protest is that Belfast City Council, the Housing Executive and the Department of Communities must sit down with the campaigners to tackle growing inequality around housing.
"They must ensure that every opportunity to develop homes is grasped. More social and affordable homes are desperately needed. They must also ensure that we never again face another situation like that of Hillview whereby unionists vetoed homes for Catholics and the Housing Executive facilitated this by wrongly claiming that community agreement was needed."
(LM/MH)
