Homelessness figures in Cork at record high with 655 seeking emergency help

Homelessness figures have hit a record high, with the May 2025 Homeless Report published by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage showing that 655 adults in Cork were accessing emergency accommodation at the end of May.

This is an increase on the figure for Cork for the month of April, which was 650. The homeless figures for Cork have been rising month-by-month in 2025, with a total at 641 

accessing emergency accommodation in Cork in March, 633 in February and 611 in January.

The figures also reveal that there are 94 families in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry, including 155 adults and 193 children.

Nationally, the figures from Department of Housing show that there were 15,747 adults and children accessing emergency accommodation at the end of May.

Speaking to The Echo, Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the latest homeless figures are “disgraceful.”

“Month after month records are broken. But we should never allow ourselves to accept this as normal. It is absolutely disgraceful and it is a stain on our society, both across Ireland and here in Cork.

“It is appalling and a real indictment of the policies of this government. In actual fact, far from getting on top of the problem, it looks like the problem is escalating.

“The government are going in the wrong direction from what they should be doing. They need to deliver a different approach to housing because what is happening at the minute is not only failing, it is making things worse.”

Cork South Central Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice also slammed the government's response to homelessness and the housing crisis.

 “Homelessness in Cork has once again hit a record high. These numbers are the direct result of policy choices made by the government. This is what happens when you do not protect vulnerable renters or prevent them from becoming homeless.

“Behind these grim statistics are lives that have been shattered by a broken system. We simply cannot let appalling levels of homelessness become a new normal.

“It is really difficult to continue to find the words to describe this catastrophe that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed to address. These levels of homelessness should never be tolerated.”