More support for tenants at risk of homelessness in Cork

An intervention service to help people avoid the prospect of homelessness may be beefed up by Cork County Council in the wake of the growing housing crisis.

Currently, the council has two tenancy support workers (TSWs) dealing specifically with homelessness in the North and West Cork areas, but not in the council’s southern division.

The southern area encompasses sizeable towns such as Carrigaline, Ballincollig, Youghal, Midleton, Glanmire and Cobh — where homelessness is a bigger issue.

The TSW role includes the prevention of, and early intervention, in homelessness through support, advice and practical help.

According to council officials, the aim is to enable people to maintain stable accommodation and develop skills to sustain independent tenancies. In addition, the TSWs have developed and maintained links with relevant agencies, both voluntary and statutory, to deal with homelessness.

Officials released figures in relation to the workload of the TSW employed in North Cork which showed an official was “snowed under”, dealing with 228 individual cases in the past 10 months.

Councillors said it was obvious the official needed help with the workload, but turned their attention to the lack of a corresponding position in the southern division.

Cllr Des O’Grady said the service should be extended into the more metropolitan southern area. He acknowledged there are three homeless facilities funded by the Department of Social Protection and Cork County Council, and a joint homeless forum with Cork City Council. However he said there was still a “glaring gap” with the lack of a TSW in the area.

Cllr Noel Collins, who was a social worker for many years in Britain, agreed that there should be more TSWs. He said he was “inundated” every week with people frightened they’re going to lose their homes due to rising rents and they were offered little hope because of the lack of housing.

Cobh-based Cllr Sinead Sheppard said she recently had to try and help a young mother with a three-year-old child and six-month-old baby secure a homeless shelter. It was vital, she said, a TSW was employed in her area.

“Many families are now getting a month’s notice to quit — our lack of social housing is really becoming apparent,” Cllr Ian Doyle added. County mayor Seamus McGrath said: “We need as many supports as we can have in place.”

Council chief executive Tim Lucey said he would examine the possibility of providing extra TSW supports as part of the council’s 2017 budget.