Cork's 'invisible' homeless: 673 single adults in emergency accommodation

There were 820 adults in emergency accommodation in Cork in July, the latest monthly data released by the Government has shown.

The figure represents a small increase from the record-breaking 828 in June, and is up 27% from July 2025 and 48% from July 2024.

Across the South West region, which includes both Cork and Kerry, there were 148 families in emergency accommodation, including 261 children.

Of the 888 adults who accessed emergency accommodation in July, 673 were single adults. Cork Simon has repeatedly warned that, despite representing the largest cohort experiencing homelessness, single people remain "invisible" in Government policy.

Nationally, more than 17,500 people were living in emergency accommodation in July, including 5,659 children.

Public representatives have expressed concern that the monthly figures are becoming normalised and not being treated as an emergency.

It comes as the Dáil was reconvened for one day on Friday for an emergency sitting where TDs backed an extension to excise cuts on petrol and diesel until November.

Rory Hearne, the Social Democrats spokesperson on housing, said his party supported the recalling of the Dáil and deferring of fuel cost increases.

“However, for the sake of the thousands of men, women, and children behind today’s grim figures, it would be refreshing if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael attached the same level of importance and priority to the homelessness emergency.

“We must never forget the human misery behind the tragedy of homelessness,” he said, adding that his office was recently contacted by a mother of two children, both with additional needs, who are facing homelessness after receiving an eviction notice from their rental property.

“This is an impossible situation that no family should face in a wealthy country such as ours. We must never allow it to become normalised,” Mr Hearne said.