Cork sees 54% increase in use homeless accomodation
The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Cork is on the rise, with a 54% increase in the first nine months of this year.
According to new research carried out by the Cork Simon Community, Cork is experiencing a housing and homelessness crisis.
48% of people staying in their emergency shelter last summer were still in the emergency accommodation 12 months later.
The Campaigns & Communications Manager, with Cork Simon, Paul Sheehan, said the lack of available housing is the biggest barrier preventing people from moving out of homelessness.
"There's no doubt but that we're in a housing crisis and a homelessness crisis," he said.
"People who are housed and getting the right supports are able to live life to the full and are able to leave homelessness behind them.
"The Government has a housing-led approach … house people as quickly as possible, and then bring the support to bear so they can stay in that housing.
"It's a great policy. We agree with it 100%. The problem is, the housing isn't available. There's a chronic shortage."
