The problem of homelessness for young people in Cork could be addressed if the right facilities, which were not present at the moment, were put in place, a study released yesterday claims.
The study, conducted by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCC and the Cork Simon Community, showed that, between October 2000 and April 2001, 34 young people under the age of 26 were homeless in Cork for a variety of reasons.
Of the study group, 13 people interviewed were between 18 and 21 years of age, 19 were between 22 and 26 years of age, and one was under 18.
The study found that young people left home because of drug and alcohol problems, family difficulties such as violence, as well as abuse and being asked to leave by friends or relatives. The fact that most of the people interviewed were highly mobile suggested they did not have access to local support networks. Many of them did not stay in accommodation for long and at some stage tended to return to the street.
Both physical and emotional health problems were reported by the study group. Physical health problems included asthma, liver problems, muscle or joint pain, arthritis, hepatitis A and B, diabetes and ulcers.
Emotional problems included depression, panic disorder and suicide threat.
According to the report, separate accommodation is needed in Cork for 18- to 26-year-olds because this age group is particularly vulnerable and has different needs from older people staying in accommodation for the homeless.
The report envisaged that special accommodation for 18- to 26-year-olds would provide assessment, help in accessing social welfare and medical facilities and other linkages with appropriate services such as transition accommodation, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment and aggression management.
It also called for a separate pre-treatment service for 18- to 26-year-olds in an environment appropriate for young people with drug and alcohol programmes.
It said a day service such as a youth cafe was needed in Cork which would provide a place for young homeless people to go for recreational purposes.
Such a service would also provide access to medical advice and information on accommodation, etc.
The report was launched in Cork yesterday by Mr Dan Wallace, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment.