City council approves loan for elderly homeless centre to double its bed capacity 

Cork city councillors have approved a €28.6m loan to Oakdene House, which will serve to double its bed capacity.

The centre, located at O’Connell Court in Togher, provides accommodation for older people who find themselves homeless, and had applied for a loan to refurbish its existing units and add 46 new units.

It has en suite rooms and communal areas including a TV lounge, laundry facilities, a hairdresser, and garden.

At Monday’s meeting of Cork City Council, councillors were told that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has approved a funding application from Oakdene House CLG under the capital assistance scheme for the loan.

The funds will provide for the refurbishment of 44 existing units, as well as a two-storey extension which will provide a further 46 units.

The extension will also include additional communal facilities including meeting rooms, offices, treatment rooms, and activity rooms, as well as the 46 units to accommodate older homeless people.

The scheme under which the funding was granted involves the local authority advancing a loan to the voluntary body to cover costs in providing social housing accommodation.

The loan is secured by a mortgage on the property and is fully funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

At the council meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor for the South West ward Fergal Dennehy proposed that the motion to grant funding be accepted.

It was seconded by ward colleague Joe Lynch of Sinn Féin, and was passed unanimously.

Mr Dennehy said at the meeting: “I want to welcome this — we could just approve it and agree to it, but it’s an investment in the community to an organisation that do incredible work in supporting elderly people.

“This facility has fitted seamlessly into the community, residents there are part of the community — the organisation out there are doing an incredible job.”

Established in 1989 in response to the needs of homeless older people, the organisation is governed by a voluntary board of management, which is representative of statutory, business, and voluntary sectors in Cork city.

Development work with residents ensures that they feel included and can participate in their local community.

The project accepts self-referrals and referrals from any support agency, and caters for people aged 50 and up.

They do not accept arsonists, sex offenders, people with a history of violence, as well as those currently addicted to alcohol or using drugs.