Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy has called for more supported accommodation for homeless families who need it in the city and region.
“There has been much engagement between the Housing & Community Directorate and various stakeholders in the property and construction sector with regard to the delivery of sustainable housing solutions as part of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing & Homelessness. The term sustainability though carries extra responsibilities. Yes homeless families need a house over their head but the homelessness list of Cork City Council also reveal that many people need social supports as well to move their lives forward and those of their families- to get themselves back on their feet”.
Following approval of funding by the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government, Brian Geaney, Director of Services of Housing and Community Services Cork City Council has supported the acquisition of a premises at the Western Road, Cork which was a former hostel. It will now provide temporary supported accommodation for up to seventeen families that are currently residing in bed & breakfast and hotel accommodation. As part of the Council’s response to the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, the Family Hub Project will provide temporary supported accommodation with cooking & laundry facilities.
Cllr McCarthy highlighted that the provision of supports to families in the Family Hub is crucial: “supports will be provided in the following areas – access to a family support worker with regular engagement, Support to families to identify and access long term accommodation, Support plans for families to include health and schooling, Linking families to services for housing. childcare. Education & health, Life skills supports including budgeting, parenting, meal planning and recreation, and access to the City Council’s Placefinder Service”.
The Good Shepherd Cork Limited, will have overall responsibility for the day to day management of the facility and will therefore deal with all health and safety matters, service agreements and collate any related outcomes health& safety matters, service agreement sand collate any related outcomes. The facility will become operational in June and families are currently in the process of taking up occupancy.