Cllr Paul McAuliffe said commended Minister Alan Kelly for providing short term measures, however he has concerns as the demand in the need for accommodation has not fallen.
Cllr McAuliffe said: "It is clear for all to see that the current rental market is dysfunctional and mostly made up of accidental landlords. The government has failed to roll out the Housing Assistance Payment that would greatly help to end the poverty trap of rent supplement.
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"As long as we await a significant supply of social housing the government must ensure that Local Authorities and Housing Associations can produce accommodation from the private rental market. While this is not a long-term strategic solution it is the only way of providing homes in the very short term to those that need accommodation.
"The transition from the rent supplement to the Housing Assistance Payment must be an absolute priority for the Minister. Using rent supplement solely as an income support tool is leaving families to complete on their own in an already crowded rental market and is only making the crisis worse."
(CD/MH)
