Cork's first hub for homeless tendered for city centre location

The HSE has tendered for a premises for Cork’s first day centre for homeless people, coinciding with the publication of record figures of more than 700 adults in the city in emergency accommodation in October.

The figures, published last week, showed 712 people were homeless in Cork in October, 10 months after the city’s homelessness figures crossed the 600 barrier for the first time, in January.

A day centre has been championed by Colm Burke, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central, who said it would give people sleeping in shelters a safe, dignified alternative to spending their days on the streets.

In a notice posted on the Government’s eTenders website, the HSE has sought expressions of interest in a public contract for “a pioneering, integrated services hub in the city centre”.

The hub is described as “an initiative aimed at addressing pressing health issues in Cork city and its environs”.

“This facility, one of the first of its kind in Ireland, is designed to align with international best practices, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals.”

The notice invites potential partners to provide a property for the development of a social-care hub for the homeless within 3km of Cork city centre.

The HSE is committed to “an inclusive approach, focused on prevention, support, and recovery (reflecting) a dedication to fostering a supportive environment that promotes wellbeing, stability, and empowerment for those most in need, providing a sustainable pathway to positive healthcare outcomes”.

Mr Burke said he welcomed the tendering process for a hub, adding that he would be pressing for it to be developed at the earliest possible opportunity.

He said such a centre would give people a place to go during the day, offering them shelter, safety, and dignity, as well as access to important services.

“We currently have homeless people in Cork city who do have accommodation at night, but there is no place for them to go during the day."

“This day centre will have a number of different services in there, from the HSE, and I very much welcome that there is now progress being made on it, "he said.

It has been more than a year since a meeting took place between the HSE, Cork City Council, and the departments of housing and health to establish such a day centre, said Mr Burke. 

He is hopeful the hub could be developed as soon as possible. It was his understanding funding would be made available in 2026.