The most recent housing figures for Fermanagh District Council area, released by the NI Housing Executive this week, show the number of applicants on the waiting list for Social Housing at September last was 1,024.

Of these, 264 presented themselves as 'homeless', and 197 'transfers' (both Housing Executive and Housing Association tenants), leaving a nett 1,221 in total on waiting list

Similarly, there were 21 'transfers' among the homeless applicants, leaving 264 seeking accommodation.

A spokeswoman for the Housing Executive explained, of the 264 homeless households, 34 had been placed in temporary accommodation: "The remaining homeless households have made their own short term arrangements, which included staying with family or friends", she added.

The NIHE spokeswoman went on: "Basically after the Housing Executive establishes eligibility to apply for homeless assistance, there are three things which need to be established: Is an applicant homeless or about to become homeless (within the next 28 days):

* Is there a priority need – examples of this include if there are dependant children, risk of violence at current address, etc;

* Has the applicant become homeless intentionally?

"The Housing Executive may consider an applicant to be intentionally homeless if they have become homeless as a result of something they have done or failed to do which has resulted in them becoming homeless or threatened with homelessness", the spokeswoman added.