NCJ Number
56142
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE MAIN EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND ON HOUSING IN TERMS OF POLICIES, OBJECTIVES, PROCEDURES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
WHEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTERVENED TO INFLUENCE AND SUBSEQUENTLY TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE AMELIORATION OF HOUSING CONDITIONS BECAME A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF GOVERNMENT POLICY; HOUSING GRIEVANCES WERE DEEMED TO BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR BEHIND THE VIOLENCE AND CIVIL DISORDER. A CENTRALIZED HOUSING AUTHORITY WAS CREATED TO TAKE OVER FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BUILDING, MANAGEMENT, AND ALLOCATION OF ALL PUBLIC HOUSING. BY JULY 1973 THIS HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD TAKEN OVER FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL HOUSING STOCK IN NORTHERN IRELAND, ABOUT 155,000 DWELLINGS. THE MAIN BENEFITS HOPED FOR FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL HOUSING AUTHORITY WERE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSES BUILT AND A FAIR ALLOCATION SCHEME WHICH WOULD REMOVE ALL ALLEGATIONS OF SECTARIAN DISCRIMINATION IN HOUSING. A HOUSING ALLOCATION SCHEME BASED ON NEED HAS BEEN APPLIED SINCE JANUARY 1974; HOWEVER, THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SCHEME HAS BEEN HINDERED BY SOME CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE. ANOTHER SERIOUS PROBLEM OBSTRUCTING HOUSING ALLOCATION HAS BEEN THE HIGH LEVEL OF ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF HOUSING. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN THE BELFAST AREA, BECAUSE OF THE VIRTUAL LOSS OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING DUE TO THE POWER OF PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN SOME AREAS. HOUSING OBSOLESCENCE HAS INCREASED WHILE NEW BUILDING HAS DECREASED, DUE IN NO SMALL MEASURE TO THE RELUCTANCE OF LENDERS TO GRANT MORTGAGES ON PROPERTIES IN TROUBLED AREAS. THE PARAMILITARY CONTROL OF MANY DISTRICTS MAKES IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO COLLECT DEBTS FROM PERSONS IN THOSE AREAS. THE PRACTICAL CONTROL OF HOUSING BY LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS HAS REQUIRED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSING AUTHORITY DEAL WITH THESE GROUPS IN ORDER TO REACH COMPROMISES ON THE HANDLING OF HOUSING IN LOCAL DISTRICTS. LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THIS GROWTH OF MILITANT HOUSING GROUPS MAY INCLUDE INCREASED TENANT PARTICIPATION ISSUING IN NEW DIRECTIONS OF LOCAL MAINTENANCE SCHEMES AND HOUSING COOPERATIVES. (RCB)