More cutbacks to rent supports will worsen homelessness, warns charity

THE Government is undermining its own homeless strategy by slashing rent supports for vulnerable tenants.

Figures given to an Oireachtas Committee show almost 91,000 people were claiming rent supplement — a 52% increase on 2007.

Simon representatives told the Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs that slashed rent payments were not meeting rents requested by landlords.