There are just two properties available to rent in Ireland within standard HAP rates, according to the Simon Communities.

The group's latest Locked Out of the Market report finds just 33 places available within the discretionary rate, which can exceed the regular payment by 50%. 

In nine of the 16 areas surveyed, there was no accommodation available to rent through HAP. 

Simon Executive Director Wayne Stanley said the rental market is to blame. 

“Thirty-three properties across 16 areas, between three different household types, means that really we’re still at a functional zero,” he said. 

“The issue here is really that the private rental market is no longer a sustainable option for people to exit homelessness.” 

A tent for a homeless person in Dublin, Ireland.

In November last year, there were 13,514 people living in emergency accommodation and Mr Stanley said it is increasingly difficult to find them a long-term place to live.

“Across all local authorities where they document the number of people exiting homelessness, whereas a couple of years ago, it would have been 60% would go into the private rental market, those numbers have really fallen off a cliff,” he said. 

“It’s still well below what we would need for the private rental market to be a functioning exit for people to leave homelessness.” 

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has previously said the solution to rising homelessness is building more housing, which he said there has been a “significant increase” of in recent years.

Main image: Housing in Dublin.