E/C.12/GBR/CO/6 48. The Committee recommends that the State party take steps to introduce measures to guarantee targeted support to all those living in poverty or at risk of poverty, in particular persons with disabilities, persons belonging to ethnic, religious or other minorities, single-parent families and families with children, and adopt an anti-poverty strategy in Northern Ireland. The Committee also urges the State party to develop a comprehensive child poverty strategy and reinstate the targets and reporting duties on child poverty. In that regard, the Committee draws the attention of the State party to its statement on poverty and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted on 4 May 2001 (E/C.12/2001/10). Adequate housing 49. The Committee is concerned about the persistent critical situation in terms of the availability, affordability and accessibility of adequate housing in the State party, in part as a result of cuts in State benefits. The Committee also notes with concern that the lack of social housing has forced households to move into the private rental sector, which is not adequate in terms of affordability, habitability, accessibility and security of tenure. The Committee reiterates its previous concern that Roma, Gypsies and Travellers continue to face barriers in accessing adequate and culturally appropriate accommodation across the State party, with adequate access to basic services such as water and sanitation. The Committee also remains concerned about persistent inequality in the access to adequate housing in North Belfast, affecting Catholic families in particular (art. 11). 50. The Committee recalls its previous recommendation (see E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 29) and urges the State party to: (a) Adopt all necessary measures to address the housing deficit by ensuring a sufficient supply of housing, in particular social housing units, especially for the most disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups, including middle- and low-income individuals and households, young people and persons with disabilities; (b) Take specific measures to deal with the inability of renters in the private rental sector to pay rents on account of the limits imposed on housing allowance and effectively regulate the private rental sector, including through security of tenure protection and accountability mechanisms; (c) Take corrective measures to address bad housing, including substandard housing conditions and uninhabitable housing; (d) Ensure adequate access to culturally appropriate accommodation and stopping sites for the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities, as appropriate; take steps to avoid all forms of discrimination in the provision of accommodation; and repeal the Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2005; (e) Intensify its efforts to address the challenges to overcoming persistent inequalities in housing for Catholic families in North Belfast, including through meaningful participation by all actors in decision-making processes related to housing. Homelessness 51. The Committee is concerned about the significant rise in homelessness in the State party, particularly in England and Northern Ireland, affecting mainly single persons, families with children, victims of domestic violence, persons with disabilities and asylum seekers. The Committee also notes with concern the adverse impact that reforms of social security and reductions in financial support to local authorities have had on the right to 9