18 families homeless more than a year in Cork/Kerry

Eighteen families and 127 single people from Cork and Kerry have spent more than a year in homeless accommodation, according to a government report.

The Local Authority Homeless Performance Report for the third quarter of 2024 shows 585 adults in total were in emergency accommodation in the south-west region on the last day of September, and there were 161 people sleeping rough.

In total in the Cork and Kerry area, there were 348 single people and 27 families in NGO- operated temporary emergency accommodation, and 389 single people and 127 families in commercial hotels and B&Bs.

There were 18 families who had spent more than a year in emergency accommodation, including seven who had been there more than two years. Some 127 single people had spent more than a year, and 37 more than two years, in emergency accommodation.

Some 121 families who had been in emergency accommodation before, presented again in the Cork and Kerry region, as did 640 single people.

The report looks at reasons for entering homelessness, and shows that 40 households — 16 families and 24 single households — presented at emergency accommodation following a no-fault eviction. In the majority of the cases, this was because the landlord was selling the property or the landlord or their family was moving in.

Two families presented at emergency accommodation due to domestic violence, while two single people who presented were Irish residents returning from abroad.

Twenty-four households in total presented to emergency services upon leaving an institution such as a hospital, prison, or refuge, and 26 households presented due to a relationship breakdown with a partner or parent.

Forty single people and 44 families were reported as exiting emergency accommodation to go to a residential property, largely to either local authority lettings or Approved Housing Body lettings, with just seven households exiting to a private rented property using HAP or the RAS.

Eighty-four people were leaving for other reasons — five to stay with friends or family, 12 going to a medical facility such as a hospital or residential treatment, and six going to prison, with a further 61 either leaving the country or not returning to the service so no more information is available.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said: “There are many reasons that could see a family enter emergency accommodation. What is deeply concerning is that for 41% of families in the south-west in Q3, they were forced into homeless accommodation because of a no-fault eviction from their private rental property.

“These are families who pay their rent, don’t cause any issues for their landlord, and are now facing homelessness this Christmas.”

He added: “I believe that the next government must create pathways out of homelessness and protect families in the private rental sector. No child should be worrying if Santa can find them because they live in a hotel.”