HOUSING CHARITY THRESHOLD moved 142 people, including 50 children, out of homelessness in the last year in Cork, according to a report published today.

The report details the work of the charity’s access housing unit in Cork, which helps homeless people move into private accommodation. It also works to prevent tenancies failing to ensure people do not become homeless in the first place.

The unit, which is funded by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and Cork City Council, has been operating since autumn of last year and said today the figures shows the service has “made a real impact” on homelessness in the region.

Commenting on the figures, services manager for Threshold in Cork, Diarmaid O’Sullivan said homelessness has a “particularly destructive impact on families and children”.

Children’s education is disrupted; family support networks break down; and there is a huge mental and emotional toll on those affected. In light of this, it’s particularly encouraging to note the number of children helped through our Access Housing Unit this year.

In the case of two of the women who were housed, they now have appropriate accommodation to bring their children to and have overnight access with them.

There were also ten cases of threatened or illegal eviction brought to the attention of the unit and all were prevented.

O’Sullivan said some homeless people spend years in hostels and shelters before getting an opportunity to have a place of their own. By working with services and landlords, he said the unit can now house people in a matter of months.

However he said the charity recognises that a person who has experienced homelessness needs more than just housing and staff visit people in their new homes to help them “avoid potential pitfalls”. This includes advice on budgeting, money management, self-care and any other challenges that may arise.

To date, 85 per cent of those housed by the unit have not returned to homelessness.

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