There's something extremely unsettling about the Prime Minister speaking to a homeless man on the street about a new information app on homelessness services ("I never thought it would happen to me", 30/1). The man spoke for thousands of citizens when he said his problem is not information but a desperate need for affordable housing.

Mr Turnbull, please get real and do not humiliate the homeless unless you have an affordable housing plan, rather than an app, to announce. You were speaking to a man whose health, or even life, is at risk because of your lack of policy action.

The Abbott/Turnbull government has cut funds to affordable housing and homelessness services while it delays release of a green paper on homelessness. At this rate, there will no significant policy announcements on housing and homelessness for the term of this government.

Our Home at Last service is inundated with older people who, as the homeless man described, are facing eviction because they cannot afford to pay rent in the private market. For example, the average rent for a one-bedroom flat in Melbourne takes 65per cent of the age pension. We urgently need a national affordable housing strategy.

Daisy Ellery, chairperson, Housing for the Aged Action Group, Melbourne

Read related stories below:

Ask Izzy app connects the homeless to food, shelter and health services 

Turnbull meets Kent and spruiks new website for homeless