Over 600 deemedhomeless in city

Housing Minister Mervyn Storey revealed the extent of the problem in response to an Assembly Question.

He said: “The Housing Executive has advised that at September 30, 2015, the number of people awarded full duty applicant homelessness points in the Foyle parliamentary constituency, broken down by NIHE District area was: Waterloo Place (224); Waterside (179); Collon Terrace (198).”

A Full Duty Applicant is a person to whom the Housing Executive owes a duty under the Homelessness legislation, Article 10(2) of the Housing (NI) Order, 1988 to “secure that accommodation becomes available for his or her occupation.”

Meanwhile, hundreds more have asked to be moved from one property to another in Londonderry due to their being in housing street.

Mr Storey said: “The Housing Executive has advised that at October 1, 2015, the number of pending transfer requests in respect of the Foyle Parliamentary Constituency registered on the waiting list that have been awarded points on medical or social grounds was 427.

“Of these requests 348 are deemed to be in housing stress (i.e. they have in excess of 30 points).”