Homeless support team expanded with new funding

More than €200,000 has been provided to fund a team in Cork city to improve access to health services for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The funding, which amounts to €218,366 and was provided to Good Shepherd Cork, will go towards supporting a multi-disciplinary team. It has allowed for the addition of a clinical psychologist and two addiction outreach workers to the team.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said the added team members are “strengthening supports for women with mental health and addiction needs”.

The funding comes under the Women’s Health Action Plan. Good Shepherd’s project is one of four pilot schemes which received funding under the plan. The pilot schemes “demonstrated a positive impact in improving health outcomes for the women involved”, said a Department spokesperson, and will be supported with recurring funding under Budget 2026. In total, €665,000 in funding was announced by Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD.

Other projects that have received funding are Ana Liffey Midwest based in Limerick (€126,562); Ana Liffey Drug Project based in Dublin (€200,000); and €120,000 for healthcare services to support Traveller women in the HSE’s Dublin and North East region.

Good Shepherd supported 930 women, children and fathers “who were homeless or vulnerable to homelessness” in 2024, according to its annual report for that year. This was an increase of 80 compared to 2023.

It also accommodated 140 women and children in its emergency shelter in Edel House.