Sinn Féin has urged the Housing Executive to address the "emerging crisis" and "deep-rooted inequality" in the housing system.

Speaking at Mid Ulster Council's Rural Housing Seminar in Cookstown on Friday, 21 September, MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said: "Most rural families rely on private home ownership, not because they can afford it more than their urban counterparts, average incomes in rural areas are lower, but because there is very little choice.

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"But this crisis is not just rural, across society, thousands of people are homeless, in housing stress, facing high levels of overcrowding and waiting an average of two years on the housing list. 

"Mid Ulster alone has around 1000 families in housing stress, yet there are plans to build only 67 homes in total. 

She added: "The Housing Executive must step up and address the growing inequalities that exist in rural housing provision by focusing on prioritising the supply of social and affordable housing to meet growing demand.

"Sinn Féin remain committed to challenging urban and rural inequality through an ambitious programme of new builds to immediately address unequal access and progress the realisation of the right to a home in line with international equality obligations."

(CM/MH)