'The pathways out are disappearing': Homelessness figures have risen again to a new high in Cork

Homelessness figures have risen again to a new high in Cork, with 641 adults accessing emergency accommodation.

The figures for March represent an increase of 50 people in just three months, and come as Cork Simon says its emergency shelter is “packed to the rafters”.

The figures were 633 in February, 611 in January, and 591 in December 2024.

Paul Sheehan, the head of campaigns and communications at Cork Simon, told The Echo these latest figures represent “another record monthly high”.

“The figures are up 27% in 12 months,” he said. “Our own emergency shelter is packed to the rafters.

“The emergency accommodation system is creaking at the seams, yet more people keep being pushed into homelessness — where are these people going to go?” he said.

In total, 688 adults in the South-West region, made up of Cork and Kerry, are in emergency accommodation — 526 single adults and 162 as part of families, as well as 204 children.

Emergency accommodation is broken down into two categories: Supported temporary accommodation, which is made up of shelters such as Cork Simon’s, and private emergency accommodation — which includes hotels and B&Bs.

“The report shows there are 506 adults in private emergency accommodation in the South-West, compared to 188 in shelters, because the shelters are full so hotels have to be used,” Mr Sheehan said.

He said Cork Simon has an average of 76 people a night staying in its shelter — its highest figure ever.

“When we opened in 1996, it was 44 a night, and it stayed around that figure, static until November 2017 when we opened our ‘Night Light’ service, which is mattresses on the floor of our day service.

“We thought it would be temporary, just for the winter, but it has remained open ever since, such is the demand.

“We’ve had to create extra bed spaces elsewhere in the building.”

Mr Sheehan added that they are worryingly also seeing an increase in the number of people who are long-term homeless, meaning in emergency accommodation for over six months, “and we know from experience the longer someone remains stuck in emergency accommodation, the harder it is to get out — it creates a whole other set of issues”.

“The pathways out of homelessness are disappearing.”

The Government’s homeless quarterly progress report for the first three months of 2025 has also been published, and it shows a decrease in the amount of people exiting homelessness and being prevented from entering homelessness in the South-West region.

In Q1 2024, 123 adults exited homelessness in Cork and Kerry — compared to 112 in Q1 2025.

Meanwhile, 177 adults were prevented from entering homelessness during the first three months of last year. However, it was just 42 this year.

Getting a notice of termination of tenancy from a landlord of a private rental property is, by far, the most common reason for homelessness currently, the report shows.

In 2024, the tenant-in-situ scheme, which sees the Government buy homes from private landlords so the tenant can continue to rent it from them, accounted for 37.7% of homeless preventions in Cork city — including 37 single households and 51 families, comprising of 87 adults and 100 children.

Cork City Council revealed last week that 361 notices of termination were issued where the landlord had intention to sell in the first three months of this year, marking a 47% increase from this time last year.

To date in 2025 in Cork, 39 new households have been placed in emergency accommodation due to receipt of compliant notices to quit — 23 single households and 16 families, comprising of 25 adults and 35 children.

Due to insufficient government funding, Cork City Council has had to cease the tenant-in-situ programme for 2025.

It warned that this is “expected to have a significant effect on homeless preventions” this year.

The Government’s quarterly progress report also shows that 47 families have been in emergency accommodation for less than six months in the South-West, 29 for six to 12 months, nine for 12-18 months, seven for 18-24 months, and five for over two years.

In terms of single people, 248 have been in emergency accommodation for less than six months, 145 for six to 12 months, 45 for 12-18 months, 32 for 18-24 months, and 44 for over two years.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said he expects the numbers to get worse “as the Government has stripped funding from homeless prevention in Cork city”.

“There are children growing up in hotels — they have spent two birthdays, two Christmases, and now two Easters without a home of their own,” Mr Gould stated.

“The trauma of this will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“How many children must become homeless before this Government admits that this is an emergency?”

David Carroll, the chief executive of homelessness charity Depaul, has called for the Government to show evidence that they have a plan to address the figures urgently.

He said that they were worried about the potential long-term impact on the mental health of those in homelessness, saying: “This increasing number further compounds the potential numbers of those facing mental health issues as a result.”

Mr Carroll said: “We are really concerned that these numbers are becoming our new, accepted normal now.

“The lack of co-ordinated action means it is likely we are going to see them continue to climb month on month.”