People in 'mental anguish' due to cost-of-living crisis, says Cork charity chief

'People who are sleeping on the streets and who find themselves with nowhere to go during daytime, without doubt, that’s the sharpest end.' Stock picture

While rough sleepers and homeless people are on the sharpest end of Ireland’s housing crisis, the cost of living means many more people are living in “mental anguish”, Cork Simon's CEO has said.

Launching the charity's annual impact report, Dermot Kavanagh said poverty is the greatest driver of homelessness, warning that cost-of-living pressures are pushing increasing numbers of people into hardship.

“People who are sleeping on the streets and who find themselves with nowhere to go during daytime, without doubt, that’s the sharpest end,” he said.

“But imagine the mental anguish of feeling at risk of homelessness all the time, knowing that you can't afford the ESB bill, not knowing whether you’re going to pay your rent, and there are thousands upon thousands of people in in that situation, and it’s getting worse.” 

Mr Kavanagh said people reliant on the Housing Assistance Payment are under growing pressure because HAP limits have remained unchanged despite a significant increase in inflation and rental costs.

Department of Housing figures show homelessness in Cork has increased a record 25% year-on-year since August 2025, and is up 14% since January.

There were 851 adults living in emergency accommodation in the city in August, compared to 747 in January and 679 last August.

Mr Kavanagh noted that the number of people leaving homelessness has remained relatively unchanged in recent years.

In 2025, 190 single-person households and 142 families exited homelessness in Cork.

Mr Kavanagh said it is a concerning trend: “With the number of people who are becoming homeless rising, we have to increase the number of exits, or we’re going nowhere,” he said.

Mr Kavanagh said that in 2025, an average of 77 adults per night were supported at Cork Simon’s emergency and nightlight shelter.

The charity helped 38 men and women to move from homelessness to independent and supported housing, while 259 formerly homeless people were supported in their tenancies.

Safe accommodation alternatives to entering emergency accommodation were found for 57 adults.

In 2025, Cork Simon recorded an income of €17,334,905, a 12% increase on 2024. Last year it had an expenditure of €16,038,676, a 4.8% increase on 2024.