Eamonn McCann calls for support for students threatened with eviction during COVID-19 crisis

Colr. McCann said: "Young people are among the hardest hit financially in this crisis. This includes students. We shouldn't stand for a situation wherein landlords receive a state bailout and students are forced to pay rent for accommodation they're not using.

"Students should also be able to access benefits on the same basis as everyone else during this crisis."

New research published by the National Union of Students this week shows 81 per cent of students are worried about their job prospects, while 95 per cent are concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on the economy.

Colr. McCann said he will be bringing a motion to next week's full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council in which he will urge all Councillors to support an NUS-USI student union campaign for the government to act on this immediately.

The motion calls for a rent suspension for all students throughout the duration of this crisis; for students to be granted a penalty free option of terminating their tenancy contracts; for students to be granted immediate access to apply for benefits; and for all measures supporting students to be backdated to March 1.