A new service aimed at helping homeless people in Cork find permanent homes has been officially opened.

The Access Housing Unit is a project of the national housing charity, Threshold. It was set up in response to an increasing number of people using emergency accommodation and a shortage of local authority housing in Cork, particularly for people who are single.

Since the service started operating last autumn, almost 40 people have been moved out of homelessness, most of whom were reliant on emergency accommodation.

The unit works by sourcing properties from private landlords, arranging viewings for people who are in homeless accommodation and then helping them to secure a rent payment under the rent supplement scheme. When they move in, the unit provides support to the people so that they can live independently.

"It might sound obvious, but the greatest challenge homeless people face is finding a place to live. Homeless people often spend many months, if not years, in hostels and shelters before getting an opportunity to have a place of their own. By working closely with other homeless services and with landlords, Threshold can house people in a matter of months," explained Diarmaid O'Sullivan, service manager with Threshold Cork.

He emphasised that the service does not end with the person finding a home, as many will need further support to get back on their feet.

"Our experienced housing staff visit people in their new home to help them with potential pitfalls, such as budgeting, money management, self-care and any other problems that may arise. As a result, our success rate is very high," he said.

He also pointed out that the unit puts a big emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

"The ultimate aim is to prevent people from actually becoming homeless in the first place. We want to keep people in their homes and we provide them with the support to do just that."

This was backed up by Threshold chairperson, Senator Aideen Hayden, who noted that preventing homelessness in the first place ‘is obviously the most cost-effective solution for the individual concerned and for the State'.

"It is well recognised that when someone enters a homeless service, the longer they remain there, the more difficult it is for them to move back into a normal way of life. So ending homelessness not only ends this cycle of misery, but also makes sound economic sense," she explained.

She pointed out that the average cost of maintaining somebody in emergency hostel accommodation in Cork is about €23,000 per year, however the cost of rent supplement for a single person, together with tenancy support through a service such as the Access Housing Unit, is approximately €8,000.

"This means it is actually €15,000 cheaper to deliver a permanent housing solution. More of the homeless budget needs to be diverted away from emergency accommodation and towards the prevention of homelessness and the provision of housing solutions like the Access Housing Unit," Senator Hayden added.

The unit has already begun helping people who may be about to lose their accommodation due to, for example, rent arrears. It has provided 20 people with intensive support to prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.

The unit is funded by Cork County Council and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. For more information click here