‘It’s a scandal,’ Lord Mayor of Cork Christy Burke has said, referring to the tragedy of homelessness in Cork, and beyond.
The Cork Simon Community has stated that the number of rough sleepers on the city’s streets has risen by more than 500% in just three years.
There were only 38 people officially recorded as homeless in Cork in 2011.
But so far this year, the organisation has encountered 230 people sleeping on the cold streets.
The dire statistic comes in the wake of the death of 43-year-old Dublin homeless man Jonathan Corrie. He perished out in the cold right under the eaves of Leinster House.
Politicians, representatives from the clergy and charities are now preparing for two meetings aimed at discussing the homelessness crisis in Dublin.
The Lord Mayor said action needs to be taken now to prevent another Jonathan Corrie from dying in similar circumstances.’
“If we don’t address this misery now, you and I will be speaking of further deaths in the days and months ahead. I’m now out five nights a week in our city helping the homeless,’ he added.