Northern Ireland is experiencing a housing emergency, illustrated by an acute shortage of affordable homes, rising costs, and rising levels of homelessness. While the Department for Communities has recently published a Housing Supply Strategy, it falls short of providing the clear and ambitious plan that’s needed to deliver sustainable, safe, and affordable housing at the required scale. Without bold and transformative action, the housing emergency will continue to harm communities, exacerbate inequalities, and hinder economic progress.

The SDLP is committed to tackling the housing emergency through bold, transformative action that prioritises the delivery of sustainable, safe and affordable housing. This commitment is rooted in a track record of delivery. In previous Executives we delivered thousands of high-quality social homes, significant investments in housing infrastructure, and policies that laid the foundation for more equitable access to affordable housing.

Building on this legacy, we will ensure housing becomes a cornerstone of our social and economic infrastructure. This paper outlines our plan to tackle the housing emergency.