Cork Simon says many homeless people availing of its services are often suffering from poor mental health as well as drug and alcohol addiction.
86% of homeless people who died in 2021 had a history of drug abuse while close to half of homeless women in drug related deaths had a history of mental illness according to the Health Research Board.
Speaking to RedFM News, Paul Sheehan from Cork Simon says homeless people who are isolated from society often turn to drugs or alcohol:
"We see it across the board. We see people with a whole range of issues. Poor mental health, poor physical health, drug use, poly drug use, quite often using alcohol on top of that. They're isolated, they're excluded, they're most likely disconnected from their family members."
