Warning Belfast's homelessness crisis is 'worst it has been for a long time'

Belfast's homelessness crisis is "the worst it has been for a long time", an outreach team has said.

Services are stretched, teams are under pressure and temporary accommodation is reportedly more difficult to secure due to demand.

Homelessness in the city is not a new issue, but the streets are becoming more dangerous.

Ellie Hippsley is an outreach worker for the Welcome Organisation.

Out on patrol with UTV, she said: "The job is supposed to be, find a person who's experiencing street homelessness and accommodate them. That seems like a pretty simple step by step process, but in reality, you're finding people at their absolute worst and having to build them up.

"We could open more temporary accommodation tomorrow, but we need to stop what's causing people to become homeless in the first place. This is a mental health issue, a physical health issue, a criminal justice issue and a societal issue. This isn't just a Northern Ireland Housing Executive issue."

The Welcome Organisation told us that addiction issues are exacerbating the problem as well as a lack of temporary accommodation for rough sleepers.

"It's the worst that we've seen in a long time," Ellie said.

The Welcome Organisation has recorded a 380% increase in female rough sleeping in 5 years. That's compared to a 260% increase in male rough sleeping in five years. The pressure's high.

We spoke to one rough sleeper as we were out with the organisation. We have hidden his identity.

He told us that people have tried to steal a rucksack he uses as a pillow and has watched his friend's sleeping bag being stolen.

Councillor Paul McCusker told UTV the city is becoming more dangerous.

"It's getting more difficult to keep people safe and keep people alive," he said.

"Outreach services here are a lifeline to many people who are homeless here in the city, but they are stretched."

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive told us that it has significantly increased the supply of suitable temporary accommodation while dealing with demand that has doubled over the last five years.

The Department of Health said it is working collaboratively with the Department for Communities on an action plan to tackle homelessness.

A Communities department spokesperson said Minister Gordon Lyons recognises the need to make a strategic shift to prevent homelessness - while allocating millions of pounds to do so.

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