The Simon Community has revealed that 80 per cent of rental properties are unaffordable to those on rent supplement.

It comes as Oscar winning director Lenny Abrahamson has teamed up with the Father Peter McVerry Trust and Wide Eye Media for a new ad campaign.

Abrahamson offered his services for free to make the ad, which has a production value of around €350,000.

The project called 'These Little Things' aims to remove the stigma of homelessness - and highlights the significance of house keys.

It shows people going about their daily lives with their house keys; some have forgotten theirs, while one woman is shown giving her house key to her boyfriend. The final shot is a man with a key ring but no key.

Kim Buckley spoke to Father Peter McVerry and Jason, who used to be homeless, before being given a set of his own house keys.

'These Little Things' will be screened in 72 cinemas nationwide for six weeks from this Friday.