The Simon Communities in Ireland have welcomed the rent stability legislation that is expected to be passed by the Seanad later today.  

The Simon Communities in Ireland attended a meeting called by Minister Alan Kelly and Paudie Coffey on homelessness and preparing for winter. The homelessness and housing charity said they welcomed the opportunity to meet and have these discussions with the Ministers but that there is no getting away from the fact that homelessness has grown substantially worse since the Emergency Homeless Summit of last December and the announcement of the 20 Point Action Plan was announced.

The Simon Communities in Ireland have cautiously welcomed the announcement by Minister Alan Kelly that some rent certainty measures are to be introduced. However, the homeless and housing charity expressed disappointment that it is not full rent certainty.

Simon research and conference looks at women and homelessness issues
 
• 92% of women who are homeless have experienced high levels of violence or abuse.
• 30% first experienced homelessness as children.
• A particular group of at-risk women are remaining trapped in homelessness moving between homeless services, prison, drug and alcohol services etc. 

Seven national homeless organisations and two Regional Homeless Networks have come together to issue a joint and urgent message to Government calling on them to quickly agree a mechanism to moderate rent hikes which are driving hundreds of families and individuals into homelessness.