Cork Homeless Strategies

The strategies are drawn up in partnership between the statutory and voluntary bodies. They are action plans designed to provide an integrated delivery of services to homeless people.

The “Integrated Homelessness Strategy 2001-2003” was produced from a non-sectorial approach to combating homelessness in Cork. It was the first fully integrated and comprehensive approach to working for all homeless people in Cork and addresses the varied causes of homelessness.

“Homelessness – An Integrated Strategy for Cork 2005-2007” was produced following a review by Cork Homeless Forum of the 2001-2003 strategy. The review of the strategy reflects the ongoing commitment by the Forum to the National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Inclusion (2002), the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme and the Health Strategy.

Much progress has been made against the targets set out in the first strategy. The review builds on the principles of good practice established by the Forum over the life of this first strategy. It addresses gaps in the service still existing from that period as well as current needs. It is also the road map for service providers and homeless people, outlining how best to provide and access the services for the life of the new strategy. It sets out a list of outcomes the Forum wishes to achieve in the longer term, together with an extensive programme of actions to achieve these outcomes.

Objective 5 of the 2005-2007 strategy states “We will be proactive in developing preventative strategies to break the cycle of homelessness”.

To be effective in preventing and ending homelessness, homeless persons and service providers should be aware of what services are available to them and how to access these services. This is the basic premise which has led to Cork Homeless Forum commissioning this website and the Cork Homelessness Directory.