To ask the Minister for Communities, pursuant to AQW 31507/22-27, to detail any interim measures in place to reduce the number of families with children in unsuitable, or hotel-style, temporary accommodation, while the planned 600 units are being acquired over a four-year period.

This issue is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

“The Housing Executive’s strategic approach to addressing the supply and demand for temporary accommodation, including seeking to reduce the number of families with children in non-standard temporary accommodation, is outlined in the Strategic Action Plan for Temporary Accommodation which can be found here: https://www.nihe.gov.uk/getattachment/0d1aee01-f02c-40d6-b95b-a58c7213c2c0/Temporary-Accommodation-Strategic-Action-Plan-2022-27.pdf

As a result of this work, approximately 324 self-contained properties have been added to the Housing Executive’s portfolio this financial year.

The Housing Executive seeks to avoid placing families with children in non-standard temporary accommodation for more than two weeks and will identify alternative options at the earliest possible opportunity. The majority of families with children are placed in ‘own front door accommodation’ such as Single Lets, with approximately 97% of children in temporary accommodation living in such placements.”