500% increase in people sleeping rough in Cork

A survey of major charities dealing with homelessness has found that rough sleeping has increased significantly across the country, with a 500% rise in Cork alone. 

Rough sleeping numbers have surged in Cork, from 38 in 2011 to 230 people at the time of the survey.

The Irish Examiner survey of Focus Ireland, the Simon Community, Depaul, Novas, and Cope Galway found that each charity’s funding had been cut significantly in recent years, by around 20%-25% across the board. Most also stated that demand for services is at an all-time high.

The Simon Community in Cork said that, in 2011, it met 38 people who had slept rough for a night, but so far this year it has identified 230 rough sleepers in the city — an increase of 505% in three years.

The Simon Community in Dublin has identified a 163% increase in rough sleeping in the last year.

The figures come as the Government hosts an emergency summit on homelessness tomorrow following the death of a man in a doorway close to Leinster House.

The forum will include the chiefs executive of the four local authorities in Dublin, the lord mayor of Dublin City, cathaoirligh of South Dublin, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, and Fingal, as well as the non-governmental organisations working in the sector.

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has also been invited to the event, which was announced yesterday by Environment Minister Alan Kelly.

The survey of agencies who work in the homelessness sector also found that the Habitual Residence Condition was also impacting on people’s access to assistance.

People who have been assessed by the Department of Social Protection as not meeting the Habitual Residence Condition — which can include Irish citizens in the case of returned emigrants — are not entitled to a social welfare payment.

Homeless people who don’t receive a social welfare payment and who are not funded by local authorities are usually not admitted.

Only Cork Simon Community said it routinely worked with such clients; others did so only in exceptional circumstances or on an emergency basis.

Galway City Council confirmed that in addition to the Habitual Residence Condition requirements, it only approves people with links to Galway for access to temporary accommodation there.

Cope Galway, which provides the homeless accommodation, ordinarily accepts only those clients who are approved by Galway City Council, although they can make exceptions.

In the last Rough Sleeper count in Dublin, conducted on November 11, 168 people were found to be sleeping on the streets.

In the course of this year, 740 children have been involved with homeless services, typically in families.

Expenditure on hotel accommodation this year is expected to be €4.5m — significantly more than was spent in previous years.