The keys to an 11 home social housing development in North Belfast were handed over to their delighted owners last week. The 11 new houses have been built in the Stanhope Street area of Carrickhill and the new owners were given the keys last Wednesday morning. Community worker Frank Dempsey said the families moving into the Oaklee Housing Association houses were delighted they finally have homes.
“It was a great day for the families as they were finally able to take possession of the houses,” he said.
“We have people moving in there who have been in hostels for two years with their kids and now their nightmare is over. They will be able to have a permanent home to bring up their children and settle in.”
The veteran housing campaigner said although each new development is to be welcomed, there are still hundreds more people languishing on the housing waiting list.
“The reality is that even though these families now have somewhere there are hundreds more sitting without a home,” he said.
“They are still living the nightmare. Every new housing development is to be welcomed, but the sad fact is that the housing waiting list is still too long and there are still hundreds of families in North Belfast in housing stress.”
