Homeless figures in Cork reach another record high 

Homelessness in Cork has reached another record high, according to figures released today.

There were 787 adults in emergency accommodation in Cork in March this year, up considerably from 760 the month before.

The monthly data published by the Department of Housing shows that the number of adults in emergency accommodation in Cork first surpassed 700 in October 2025, and has continued to rise since.

The latest monthly figure marks yet another new record, up 3.5% from the February figures released last month, and up 23% from 641 12 months previously.

Across Cork and Kerry, 137 families, consisting of 205 adults and 252 children, were in emergency accommodation over the month, up from 98 in March 2025.

Nationally, the number of people in emergency accommodation rose again last month to 17,517, an increase of 209 on February's figures.

LOCKED OUT

It comes as the most recent Locked Out of the Market report from Simon Communities of Ireland shows that rental properties in Cork remain out of reach for most people trying to leave emergency accommodation.

Locked Out of the Market is a snapshot study undertaken every quarter, over three consecutive days, on Ireland’s most used property website and app, Daft.ie.

This report tracks the number of properties advertised to rent within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits in 16 areas including Cork city centre and Cork city suburbs.

Nationally, the report shows a 55% decrease from the number of properties available within HAP limits in the previous report, which looked at data from December 2025.

HAP

Cork city centre had one property to rent within HAP limits, an increase from none in December, but Cork city suburbs had no properties within the limits, a decrease from one in the last report.

However, there was an increase in properties available to rent at any price, with an additional 11 properties in Cork city centre and 20 in Cork city suburbs compared to the previous quarter, for a total of 46 properties to rent in the city centre and 53 in the suburbs.

Cork Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said of the latest homelessness data: “Many of these people have no other options – rents are too high, supply is too low and they are forced into homelessness.

“The numbers of families in emergency accommodation in Cork and Kerry should be a resigning matter for the Minister for Housing. A 40% increase in family homelessness in one year is a clear sign of a government that have failed.” 

Focus Ireland has called for more urgent action on the deepening crisis, saying that one action the Government could take right away is to ensure more families and individuals who are long-term homeless are given access to a significant portion of social housing as it becomes available.

Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan stressed that homelessness can be ended with the right approach. 

He said: “It really is heartbreaking to see homelessness hit yet another record level and to know that thousands of children are growing up without the security of a home. Homelessness is not a foregone conclusion. With the right policies we can turn this around.”