People on housing assistance in Sligo town are finding it difficult if not impossible to find rental accommodation.
That’s according to a new report from the Simon Community which reveals that the cost of rent is higher than the amount covered by the Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAPS) in many parts of the country.
The survey called “Locked out of the Market” carried out over three days in August looks at the rental market in a number of areas including Sligo town and county Leitrim.
Leitrim was found to be one of the few counties where people on housing assistance do not have to pay extra on rent.
However, in Sligo town there was no apartment or house available during that period where the rent was less than what’s approved under HAPS.
Sinn Fein Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says Leitrim was one of the few exceptions.
But he says the whole situation is down to a lack of supply which is leaving many families under more financial pressure:
