Publications and reports Homeless Watch Homeless watch Updated June 2022 459 Adults in Emergency Accommodation in Cork 88 Adults in Emergency Accommodation in Kerry According to figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage there were 10,325 men, women and children in emergency accommodation nationally during the week of 23-29 May 2022 - a 29% increase in twelve months and a 3% increase in a month. CORK 459 adults were depending on emergency accommodation in Cork during the week of 23-29 May 2022 - up 11% in twelve months. However, it's the third month in a row this year where the number of adults in emergency accommodation in Cork fell - a most welcome development, falling by 1% since April 2022, falling by 3% since March 2022 and falling by 6.5% since February 2022. Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. KERRY 88 adults were depending on emergency accommodation in Kerry during the week of 23-29 May 2022 - up 9% in twelve months. Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. SOUTH WEST 656 men, women and children were depending on emergency accommodation in the South West (Cork and Kerry) during the week of 23-29 May 2022 - up 10% in twelve months. However, it's the third month in a row this year where the number of men, women and children in emergency accommodation in the South West fell - a most welcome development, falling by 5% since April 2022, falling by 6% since March 2022 and falling by 11% since February 2022. Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. It is also worth noting that these figures only capture people in emergency accommodation and don’t reflect the full scale of the homeless crisis. People rough sleeping, those in squats, parents and children in refuges, those in direct provision and hidden homelessness – people staying with family or friends on an insecure basis, often in over-crowded accommodation, because they have no where else to stay – are not counted. “When I starts going in [to the Emergency Shelter] I didn’t know what to be expecting. I’d never been in that situation before. And to be honest I was just sitting there looking around me thinking what am I after doing to myself.” Rents at all-time high. Supply at all-time low. According to the latest rental report (Q1 2022) from Daft.ie, just 131 homes were available to rent in Munster on 01 May 2022 – the lowest ever since the reports were first published in 2006. The pre-Covid average during 2019 was 750 homes. Average monthly rents during the first quarter of 2022 in Cork City increased 10.2% in twelve months. Monthly rents increased by 10.8% in Cork County and by 15.4% in Kerry. Average asking rent during Q1 2022 in Cork City was €1,607 per month. In Cork county the average asking rent was €1,258 per month, and €1,125 per month in Kerry. daft.ie Rental Report: Q1 2022 - An infographic by the team at daft.ie The Simon Communities in Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market study (March 2022) shows "yet another sharp decline in the availability of affordable properties" as it tracks the gap between HAP (Housing Assistance Payments) Limits and market rents. “The prices are ridiculous. It’s Cork at the minute; it’s crazy to get anywhere, like. You find one that’s in your price range and there’s six, seven other people in front of you there and a lot of them have cash in their hand ready to go because they know how hard it is. I’ve got so many times just refused, just refused.” Average asking rent for a one-bed property in Cork City, according to the latest rental report (Q1 2022) from Daft.ie, is €1,112 – more than double the Rent Allowance / Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limit for a single person. The Simon Communities in Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market study (March 2022), found that over three consecutive days in March 2022, no one-bed properties were available to rent in Cork city centre or suburbs within standard or discretionary Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits for a single person. Discretionary HAP refers to flexibility of up to 20%, approved case-by-case. “And even with the rent allowance, it makes no difference to me. It’s no benefit.” Average asking rent for a 2-bed property in Cork City Centre according to the latest rental report (Q1 2022) from Daft.ie is €1,297 – 40% higher than the €925 Rent Allowance / HAP limit for a couple or single parent with two children. The Simon Communities in Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market study (March 2022), found that over three consecutive days in March 2022, no properties were available to rent within standard or discretionary HAP limits for a couple / one parent with two children in Cork city centre and in Cork city suburbs. Discretionary HAP refers to flexibility of up to 20%, approved case-by-case. Renters at high risk of poverty The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) in Ireland, compiled by the CSO, found almost one in six people in Ireland (17%) are at risk of poverty. It found, however, that 61% of people in rental accommodation are at risk of poverty. 27% of people seeking support at our Soup Run live in private rented accommodation, indicating this poverty trap – when rent and bills are paid, there is little left for food. More people in employment in need of social housing The percentage of people in employment and on the Social Housing Waiting List for Cork city and county City has almost doubled since 2013 and now stands at 30%, indicating people’s increasing difficulty in accessing the housing and rental market. In total, 7,172 households in Cork city and county require social housing – 4,639 households in Cork City and a further 2,533 households in Cork County are registered as in need of social housing. Source: Summary of Social Housing Assessment Needs 2019