Number of domestic violence victims in Cork unable to secure emergency shelter without proof

Victims include a woman who was pregnant but was not given homeless accommodation because it was deemed that she could return to her ex-partner’s bedsit. File photo

A victim of domestic violence who had to return to her family home when she was denied homeless status ended up in a hotel a short time later after the violence escalated.

The woman had left with her children but returned home when they were refused homeless status by Cork County Council. 

She did not have a domestic violence order or a conviction against her partner, or any documentary evidence of the violence against her.

The woman is one of a number of victims of domestic and sexual violence who have been unable to secure emergency accommodation because they do not have proof of being abused.

West Cork Beacon

West Cork Beacon, a service for victims of domestic and sexual violence, says that four such cases have come to their service within the past year.

They include the case of a woman who was pregnant but was not given homeless accommodation because it was deemed that she could return to her ex-partner’s bedsit.

Colette O’Riordan, a senior domestic violence worker with West Cork Beacon, said: “What we are finding is that there are a number of clients who present for homeless assessments who are not getting through for these kinds of reasons. A lot of our clients are not being accepted as being homeless.

"We advocate on behalf of our clients and we ensure we bring them down every appeal route that they can go and some have been successful. 

"We have a good working relationship with the county council but the difficulty is that if you are deemed homeless, the provision of accommodation is not always there anyway. A lot of clients are being made to make an application for legal orders (to help support their application) whether or not this is the client's preference.” 

Maryclare Clark, chief executive of the service, said this takes away the choice from victims of seeking legal orders “when it may not be the best choice for them, or what they want to do”.

“People are being denied the status of being homeless, as their homelessness assessment is determining that clients fleeing domestic violence do have somewhere else to go, even if this is not feasible.” 

Efforts are continuing to develop a refuge in West Cork, to be operated by West Cork Beacon, but the process has been delayed by a failure to find a suitable location.

Ms Clarke said: “We have been in the search process for a couple of years and we will continue on that process. Realistically, it is about three years from site acquisition to operational. There are so many different requirements for the site.” 

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It is difficult to find a site in West Cork that is on the public transport routes and “within a community that somebody can walk for groceries", she said.

At present, victims in West Cork are restricted to refuge spaces in Cork City, if available, or hotel rooms.

A spokesman for Cork County Council said that when victims of domestic and sexual abuse present as homeless, a homeless assessment is conducted.

“Relevant documentation is requested. In cases where the abuse has been reported to the gardaí, CCC (Cork County Council) would request a copy of the report and would also enquire if there is a court order in place regarding the alleged perpetrator," the spokesperson added.