Four mothers facing Christmas housing uncertainty

Four mothers from Londonderry have said they are facing housing uncertainty after being told by the Housing Executive they must leave their emergency temporary accommodation just weeks before Christmas.

Cliona Mulvenna, 19, has an 18-month-old baby girl and has been living in the privately-owned apartment block in the Waterside with a number of other people.

She said does not know what the future holds after she and three other women were told about a week ago that they have to move out.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) confirmed to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that "discussions with this landlord are ongoing".

Ms Mulvenna said there was so much uncertainty and, despite repeated phone calls, she cannot get a direct answer from the authorities.

"I just want safety and stability for my child," she said.

"She really needs that stability at that age, it would be beneficial for her development, she needs that.

"Constantly moving to different areas will not be great for her and her development."

Ms Mulvenna said she wanted her daughter to be in one home and will fight for her to have "one place where she feels safe and loved".

The 19-year-old said that she was reluctant to put any decorations up on her Christmas tree, fearing she may need to pack up everything she owns and move once again.

For some of the families in this accommodation, like Ms Mulvenna, it is the second time in weeks that they have faced upheaval.

They found out in October they had to leave a hotel they were being housed in because of the city's Halloween festivities.

Leonie McLaughlin, a mother-of-three, said that she simply received a phone call and was told her family are to be moved but was not given any details about when.

Ms McLaughlin said she has since been allocated a house, but has been told this will not be ready until the New Year, so she still faces uncertainty over where they will be over Christmas.

“We haven’t even unpacked here, we are still living out of suitcases," she said.

“We were in a hotel six weeks before we were moved here and myself and my husband were separated for those six weeks into two separate rooms with our children."

Ms McLaughlin said it was hard to organise daily family routines in their current circumstances.

"I'm constantly being asked by them 'are we having to move today?'," she said.

"I think they [the children[] are as anxious as we are."

One mother, who did not want to be named, said she has two children, aged 9 and 6, and was worried about how any move will affect them.

"I don't know what to do, it's all confusion," she said.

"My two children have just started to get settled here and now, just before Christmas, they keep asking: 'Are we still going to be here?'"

"They don't know if Santa will be able to come to the flat here."

She said she knows deep down that one day they will be able to move into their "forever home" but says now they are having to play a "waiting game".

"We don't know if we are going to be moved today, tomorrow, we just don't know".

Earlier this week, the NIHE said it has faced "unprecedented and record-breaking levels" of people seeking emergency accommodation.

More than 4,500 households availed of emergency temporary accommodation last weekend.

The latest Stormont figures show that more than £34m was spent on temporary accommodation in Northern Ireland in the last financial year.

Providing more social, affordable, and sustainable housing is among the key priorities in the Stormont Executive's draft programme for government.