Publications and reports Homeless Watch Homeless watch Updated April 2022 474 Adults in Emergency Accommodation in Cork 96 Adults in Emergency Accommodation in Kerry According to figures from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage there were 9,825 men, women and children in emergency accommodation nationally during the week of 21-27 March 2022 - a 22% increase in twelve months and a 4% increase in a month. CORK 474 adults were depending on emergency accommodation in Cork during the week of 21-27 March 2022 - up 21% in twelve months and up 4% since January 2022. Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. KERRY 96 adults were depending on emergency accommodation in Kerry during the week of 21-27 March 2022 - up 3% in twelve months, and up 1% since January 2022. Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. SOUTH WEST 697 men, women and children were depending on emergency accommodation in the South West (Cork and Kerry) during the week of 21-27 March 2022 - up 18% in twelve months and up 3% since January 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 latest rental report (Q4 2021) from Daft.ie, just 211 homes were available to rent in Munster on 01 February 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 October-December 2021 in Cork City increased 6.3% in twelve months. Monthly rents increased by 9.9% in Cork County and by 14.4% in Kerry. Average asking rent during Q4 2021 in Cork City was €1,539 per month. In Cork county the average asking rent was €1,217 per month, and €1,083 per month in Kerry. daft.ie Rental Report: Q4 2021 - An infographic by the team at daft.ie The Simon Communities in Ireland’s latest Locked Out of the Market study (December 2021) notes that "there was a decrease in the availability of properties for those accessing the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)" despite an increase in the overall number of properties available to rent. Simon's Locked Out of the Market report found just one property to rent in Cork city suburbs over three consecutive days in December 2021 that fell within Housing Assistance Payments. There were just two properties in Cork city centre. As the report notes, "the escalating lack of affordability is placing more and more pressure on the most vulnerable in the rental market." “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 (Q4 2021) from Daft.ie, is €1,087 – almost 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 (December 2021), found that over three consecutive days in December 2021, 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 (Q4 2021) from Daft.ie is €1,278 – 38% 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 (October 2021), found that over three consecutive days in December 20210, just 2 properties were available to rent within standard or discretionary HAP limits for a couple / one parent with two children in Cork city centre and just one property available 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