Sod turned on sheltered housing units in Charleville

The sod was turned on four new units for Charleville Sheltered Housing Services at their complex at Love Lane last Thursday by Cllr Ian Doyle, who was deputising for the Mayor of County Cork.

The development of the four units is phase one of an extra eight new houses, which will be in addition to the 25 individual housing units that the organisation already provides for elderly people from the town and area.

Charleville Sheltered Housing Services (CSHS) has received capital assistance scheme funding of €793,000 through Cork County Council to build the extra units, which when completed will increase the capacity of CSHSto meet the needs of 40 individuals from the community. This will enable residents to age-in-place and live independently in their own spacious self-contained home.

The two phases of additional homes are being delivered in partnership with Cork County Council and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and are part of a pipeline of new build supported housing that will see the housing association increase its stock by 50%.

At the sod turning ceremony, Cllr Ian Doyle acknowledged the work of Sr. M. Celestine and the work of Charleville Sheltered Housing Services and Cork County Council in bringing this project to fruition. “Supports that enable older people to remain in their communities are absolutely vital. Age-friendly housing is about being close to family and social networks alongside essential public services. Housing is a critical part of our social support infrastructure, but it has been undervalued,” he said.

John O’Donnell, the chairperson of CSHS, said that the sod turning is a strong endorsement of the progressive supported housing model that Charleville Sheltered Housing Services has been championing for the past 30 years.

“Housing that includes a range of supports and on-site communal facilities for assisted independent living is a response to our changing demographics. Residents at the Charleville campus range from 55 to 93 years, and there are a higher number of people living alone with 14% of the population in North-west Cork aged over 65 years. We see our clustered housing model located in the centre of Charleville as the way forward,“said Mr. O’Donnell.

Construction of the four additional units will commence in January.

CSHS has been providing supported housing in the town for almost 30 years. Members of the voluntary board of directors have backgrounds in nursing, GP practice, building contractors and general management. The organisation provides a ‘ home help’ service for residents in their homes, assisting with medication, personal care and housekeeping.