McCrossan calls on Minister to build 500 houses across West Tyrone

SDLP West Tyrone Westminster candidate Daniel McCrossan has described the inadequacy of social housing in West Tyrone as a shocking indictment of the Department of Social Development. Mr McCrossan has given voice to the hundreds of families who have spent months on waiting lists and has called on the DSD Minster Mervyn Storey to step up and do his job.

He said: “The complete inadequacy of social housing is one of the most important issues facing constituents of West Tyrone.

“The figures are staggering and offer a shocking indictment of the Department of Social Development. 619 families are on the waiting list in Omagh of which 175 experience housing stress. In Strabane the situation is even worse with 697 families on the waiting list with a shameful 326 of them finding the cost of living too much to bear.

“I have talked to one individual who has been waiting with her family since July. She explained how the stress has affected their physical health and the health of her marriage.

“The Social Development Minister must take urgent and immediate action. He must expedite social housing and start the development of 500 homes across West Tyrone to alleviate the burden on these hard pressed families.

“1,316 families across West Tyrone are right now waiting to have a home and this is unacceptable. Mervyn Storey needs to step up and act one of his most basic duties, to provide social housing for those who need it.”