Rising rent the cause of homeless service pressure, group claims

A housing organisation claims the increase in rent is one of the main reasons for the massive spike in those turning to homeless services.

Threshold say they've recorded a 77% spike in people looking for help.

Significant cuts to welfare benefits is another factor, according to the charity.

Bob Jordan from Threshold says more and more people can't afford the current rental market:

"The most significant thing is people who simply have an income problem - in other words, who cannot afford their current rent."

"Particularly in Dublin, rents are rising at an alarming rate. People on lower incomes are being priced out of the market, and they're coming [to us] because they simply can't find something and are days away from homelessness."