Almost 700 households in Cork supported by homelessness non-profit last year
Some 204 homeless children were located across Cork and Kerry, with an additional 590 adults homeless in the region, 545 in Cork.
FOCUS Ireland has revealed it supported almost 700 households in Cork in 2023 as it called for immediate action to tackle record child homelessness.
According to the most recent figures published by the Department of Housing, child homelessness has surpassed the 4,000 mark for the first time, reaching 4,105.
Some 204 of these were located across Cork and Kerry, with an additional 590 adults homeless in the region, 545 in Cork.
Focus Ireland CEO, Pat Dennigan said the Government appears to be “overwhelmed” by the need to provide emergency accommodation as the non-profit supported 680 households in Cork last year who were homeless or at risk.
In November of last year, 13,514 people were recorded as officially homeless nationally, this representing a 2.5 per cent increase on the previous month, and a 17 per cent increase compared to November of 2022.
The figures also showed there are now 2,000 families in emergency accommodation, a 24 per cent increase in figures on the same month of the previous year.
Mr Dennigan said: “2024 must be the year the government makes a different approach to homelessness and uses all available resources to reduce the number of people who are homeless, particularly those who are homeless for long periods.
“Instead of seeing these as competing challenges, the Government should redirect its efforts into maximising the number of long-term homeless households moving out of emergency accommodation and into their own home.
“This is an entirely achievable objective,” he added.
“In the last two years more social housing has been delivered than for many years.
“If a fairer share of new social housing was allocated to those who have been homeless for long periods, we could reduce the harm caused and ensure there was enough temporary accommodation for those who need this form of support.”
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