Changes to the rent supplement scheme announced in the budget have put more people at serious risk of becoming homeless, a charity warned today.
Focus Ireland called on the Government to reverse the changes to the eligibility criteria, which it said would put more vulnerable families and single people at risk of losing their homes.
Chief executive Joyce Loughnan said: “While by no means perfect, the rent supplement system has allowed relatively speedy access to accommodation in the private rented sector for families and individuals in urgent need of housing. It has acted as a ‘safety net’ to prevent many people becoming homeless and entering the system of emergency accommodation.”
Ms Loughnan claimed decision to change who is eligible for the supplement would act to trap people living in situations such as domestic abuse, as the changes mean they would not be able to apply for rent supplement if they had to leave their home.
“It will also impact on people who lose their home suddenly due to illness or a bereavement as they are now no longer eligible to apply for rent supplement.”
The charity said the new restrictions mean that rent supplement would no longer be available as an emergency support for many people, because applicants must now be living in rented accommodation for six months or on a housing waiting list to be eligible.
Ms Loughnan said the proposed 8 per cent reduction in the payment would also have a significant impact on the weekly income of some of the poorest families in society.
“At a time when the Government needs to be taking urgent action to provide better access to people in serious need of housing it has taken steps that will actually make it more difficult for the most marginalised families and single people to keep a roof over their heads.”