Housing and homelessness charity Cork Simon said 2022 was one of its toughest years yet, recording a 33% increase in the number of people seeking its help, reports RTE.
According to the charity’s 2022 annual impact report, irregular sleep, need for emergency accommodation and reliance on soup deliveries.
Chief executive Dermot Kavanagh said that “the rising cost of living, rising inflation and already very high rents have led to an increase in homelessness which has had a significant impact across the organisation.”
Last year, the Cork-based charity helped an average of 64 people every day with emergency shelters and night lights, compared to 39 people every night in 2021.
The number of long-term homeless people – those who need accommodation for more than six months in temporary shelters – increased by 35% to 50.
“Cork Simon is now supporting 204 formerly homeless people in housing with visiting support across Cork and Kerry, and 46 people in high-support housing with round-the-clock care,” Mr Kavanagh said, reports RTE.
“You call it rough sleeping, I call it rough resting…you’re awake for the whole night…it’s terrifying, it’s brutally terrifying. Luckily now, the lads in the house look after me 24/7. They’re unbelievable,” he added, reports RTE.
However, as a result of these claims, the charity faced an unprecedented year-end deficit of more than €750,000.
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