Breakdown in relationships with parents driving adult homelessness in Cork-Kerry

Cork Simon's Home Truths report pointed to Census data which has shown a surge in young adults living at home, but adding that 'this can add pressure to households'.

The report suggests that almost one in every 10 single adults newly presenting for emergency accommodation in the region have been made homeless due to a relationship breakdown with a parent.

There is an “over-representation” of younger adults homeless in Cork and Kerry, with the breakdown in their relationship with their parents cited as a chief cause.

A report from Cork Simon suggests that almost one in every 10 single adults newly presenting for emergency accommodation in the region have been made homeless due to a relationship breakdown with a parent.

Sophie Johnston, who authored the Home Truths report, pointed to Census data which has shown a surge in younger adults living at home, and that statistics related to homelessness make for concerning reading in this context.

“While there are no doubt benefits to ‘living at home’, and many parents and adult children will manage the relationship well, this type of doubled up housing can add pressure to households, challenge relationships, and is inherently insecure for adult children,” she said.

'If relationship breakdown occurs, alternative housing options are severely limited, leading to a risk of homelessness.'

Ms Johnston also said that there has been an increase in adults living with parents amidst a housing crisis, which is reflected in an increase of adults on social housing lists.

The proportion of adults qualified for and awaiting social housing support, and living with parents while they wait, has doubled in less than a decade in Cork, from 12% in 2013 to 24% in 2022.

The Home Truths report features first-person accounts, including one man who said: “Landlord came to me and said: ‘Your contract is up’. It was hard to find somewhere. Nobody wants to take Hap [Housing Assistance Payments]. My mother said I could move home, so I said grand.

“However, it just went downhill from there. I was 30/31. Fighting with my family. It was getting worse and worse and worse. Things just fell apart after that. I was out on the streets for one night. Ended up in [a Cork Simon emergency shelter].

“I’d never been in the homeless services before — I’ve worked for myself all my life. These kinda things, they soul destroy you, they really do.” 

Ms Johnston stressed that more affordable and social housing is an absolute necessity to alleviate these issues in Cork and Kerry.