Concern over 'stubbornly high' levels of homelessness in Cork

CONCERNS have been voiced over ‘stubbornly high’ levels of homelessness in Cork, with the number of homeless adults above 500 for the 16th consecutive month.

Sophie Johnston of Cork Simon said that its emergency accommodation is “packed to capacity”, while Caitriona Twomey, volunteer coordinator with Cork Penny Dinners, said that a growing number of individuals are resorting to ‘couch-surfing’, living in their cars, or seeking shelter in tents.

According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, there were 504 adults in emergency accommodation in Cork in the last week of March, down from 532 the previous month.

These figures do not include people who are sleeping rough, parents and children living in refuges, people living in direct provision, or those who are ‘couch surfing’, or staying with friends or family to avoid homelessness.

In March, 83 families — including 151 children — were recorded as availing of emergency accommodation in the Cork and Kerry region, down from 101 families — including 183 children — in the previous month.

Sophie Johnston said that, while any decrease in homelessness figures is welcome, the numbers remain “stubbornly high”.

“The fact is that we have had over 500 people in emergency accommodation in Cork every month since October 2022, and, in Cork Simon, our emergency accommodation is packed to capacity,” she said.

“It’s important to note that these figures don’t capture the true extent of the numbers of people who are sleeping rough, or the people who are living in precarious conditions or stuck on the verge of homelessness.”

'Bleak truth'

Caitriona Twomey also said that the issue of homelessness was more complex than indicated by the latest figures.

“Despite the apparent decrease in official homelessness statistics, the bleak truth remains that a growing number of individuals are resorting to couch-surfing, living in their cars, or seeking shelter in tents.”

The Cork Penny Dinners co-ordinator said that “it is imperative” that the Government confront the issue of homelessness directly.

“Only through proactive and compassionate measures can we hope to alleviate the suffering of those experiencing homelessness, and work towards a more equitable society for all,” she added.

544 notices to quit in Cork in Q1

Meanwhile, Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould has called for the Government to enact an emergency response, following figures which show that 544 families and individuals in Cork received a notice to quit from their landlord in the first three months of 2024.

A recent report by the Simon Community, which highlighted Government data on “reasons for presentations” among adults presenting for the first time in emergency accommodation, showed that in the final quarter of 2023 the most common reason in the South West was a notice of termination.

“Not a single week [goes by] without a family or individual contacting me, desperate because they are facing eviction,” said Mr Gould.

“I checked Daft.ie today, and there are only 98 properties to rent across the entirety of Cork city and county,” he said, adding that many of these 544 renters “will be forced to move back into parent’s houses, find a new private rental that they simply cannot afford, or enter emergency accommodation.

“Behind this number, there are 544 families who wake up in the morning thinking about their looming eviction and fall asleep at night terrified of where they will be sleeping in six months’ time,” he said.