The housing crisis is pushing people into homelessness and preventing people from leaving homelessness. Our Emergency Shelter is overflowing with an average of 53 people per night relying on a Cork Simon emergency bed. People are staying for longer and longer in emergency accommodation because they have no other options. Rents in Cork City increased 5.3% last year; Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payments do not come near asking rents.
Our Emergency Shelter is located on Anderson’s Quay, in the heart of Cork city centre. The Shelter provides care, accommodation and one-to-one support for 47 people around-the-clock, every day of the year.Demand for emergency beds is high – throughout 2017 the Shelter accommodated an average of 53 people per night – the need for emergency accommodation is so great that we try to accommodate as many people as is safe to do so.
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If you know Cork, you know that we live in a caring community. And that sense of belonging, that feeling of community, was here before all of us – and will be here long after us.
Here at Cork Simon, we are blessed that our supporters have enriched our organisation – and our community – with their generous gifts.
What we’ve achieved, with the amazing support of our donors, represents our community at its very best. Read More
December 12th, 8:30 am
As the colder, wetter, darker mornings and evenings truly set in for the winter ahead, one girl has been thinking a lot about people experiencing homelessness in Cork. Molly Buckley, age 11, put her thoughts down on paper and wrote a poem called ‘Homeless’ and sent it to us here at Cork Simon Community. Molly is in 6th Class at Gaelscoil Thomáis Dáibhis.Thank you, Molly, for sharing your very thoughtful poem:
'Homeless'
He lays quietly on the freezing cold ground,
With a depressing frown.
He holds a cup he dearly wishes he could fill,
A warm cup of tea is his desired will.
His uncomfortable bed is torn up boxes,
He’d have a big cosy bed had he not suffered such losses.
His only food is what people leave behind,
But being extremely poor he is delighted with his find.
As all the people walk swiftly by,
He lets out an upsetting sigh.
Now his terrible day is over,
He must get a slumber.
As morning is coming, he dreads the horrible day upon him.
December 11th, 9:42 am
We are delighted to be chosen as Kilkenny’s charity this Christmas.Their generosity will have an important impact on the people who rely on us every day. This fantastic initiative will support our services here in Cork. Kilkenny Shop
December 5th, 8:33 am
Where would we be without volunteers?
How could we provide all the services we do without the energy, commitment and enthusiasm of hundreds of volunteers each year?
Without volunteers, how would every person that knocks on our door in need of help know that so many people care about them and their situation?
We started out 47 years ago with a handful of volunteers – people who cared deeply about homelessness and the people experiencing it; who wanted to live in a society that looks out for each other and were prepared to do something about it.
Today, we have the best volunteers – men and women who believe everyone should have a place to call home. They believe everyone has a place in our wider community – a place where they are respected, listened to and supported. They believe in people.
Our volunteers are doing more than they have to because they want to, for a cause they consider good, for people they believe in. They are at the heart of Cork Simon and everything we do; they are the soul of Cork Simon, bringing the outside world into the lives of people who are so often ignored, forgotten or overlooked.
On this UN International Day of Volunteering, we salute all the men and women who are volunteering with us now and who have done so over the last 47 years.
All too often we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Your generous acts of volunteering are helping people to hope, are helping people to feel wanted and cherished, are helping people to believe in themselves.
From all of us here at Cork Simon, thank you all for all that you do. Thank you for believing in people.
December 4th, 8:53 am
Look who's Signed-Up for A Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day! A BIG Thank You to the Evening Echo and Irish Examiner for helping to fight homelessness here in Cork this Christmas.
Host your Cork Simon Christmas Jumper Day anytime between now and Christmas - sign-up now: www.corksimon.ie/jumper-day/
December 3rd, 12:55 pm
What's the best dance to do at this time of year? The Turkey Trot of Course!
Awful Christmas cracker jokes aside...the Annual Turkey Trot here in Cork is set to kick-off at 11.00 this Sunday morning, 09 December, from Blackrock Hurling Club.
This annual four-mile family fun-run has young and old dressing up in festive frocks and winter woollies to walk, run - or trot - across the finish line. The winner is the person who correctly guesses their finish-time.
Tea, coffee and treats will be served afterwards. The entry fee is €10 with proceeds going to Cork Simon.
Sign-up for this year's Turkey Trot by emailing Margaret at margaret.osullivan@corksimon.ie
