Residents and UNISON Members Unite to Demand Accountability and Social Housing for North Belfast
On Friday 7th October 2011, the Seven Towers Residents Group joined with UNISON members and other concerned residents of north Belfast at the Mater hospital to demand social housing for north Belfast on the landmark 26 acre site in north Belfast. Over 50 UNISON members who live and work in north Belfast joined with the group and other residents to make their voices heard.
Minister for Health Edwin Poots and Minister for Social Development Nelson Mc Causland were scheduled to attend a meeting in the board room of the Mater hospital to make an announcement on the future of the vacant Girdwood site. However, the announcement did not go ahead.
In July of this year, Minister McCausland announced his intention to shelve plans to build 200 social homes on the Girdwood site aimed at addressing the chronic social housing problem in north Belfast.
On Friday, UNISON members, along with residents from across north Belfast met the Ministers with placards and chants of “What do we want? Social Housing! When do we want it? Now!”, as they approached the Mater Hospital. The residents, who were demanding accountability and equality, proceeded to the board room to view the aerial photographs and regeneration proposals which had not been made public before the announcement.
The ministers were unable to launch their plans and were taken into the old Crumlin Road Jail site leaving the residents behind security gates in the hospital car park.
Eoin Stewart, acting Branch secretary of the mater Branch of UNISON, who was at the protest commented, “Rather than face the people for whom they are failing to invest, the ministers were walked around the hospital in an attempt to avoid the boardroom, our members and the residents. The Ministers’ actions show how unaccountable to the people of North Belfast they think they are.”
Seven Towers resident, Brenda Menham who attended Friday’s protest said afterwards, “We’re not sure what today’s announcement would have been but it is clear that the residents of north Belfast weren’t involved in any of the decision making and that social housing doesn’t factor in their plans.”
The need for social housing is well known, in fact the Draft Equality Impact Assessment for Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood Park Draft Masterplan stated that 1291 homes would need to be built by 2012 to meet the projected Catholic housing need. The planned social housing developments in North Belfast from 2007-2012, however only planned for 659 homes, leaving a shortfall of 632 desperately needed homes.
Residents are determined to ensure that the much needed land is secured to begin addressing the chronic housing shortage in north Belfast. Proceeding with any other venture would breach the NI Executive’s legal obligation to promote equality for those in most need, and would be an affront to all those in desperate need and on the housing waiting list.