As the homelessness crisis in Cork worsens, one local woman shares how she hopes to help Cork Simon make a difference.
Since Ann Wixted first moved to Cork over 40 years ago, plenty has changed.
For starters, the Dublin native has fallen head over heels for the real capital in ways she never imagined.
“We moved to Cork over four decades ago when my husband Declan found work as an engineer,” Ann recalls. “It was a massive change moving to a big city like Cork. At that stage, we’d left Dublin and were raising our family in Arklow, a small town in Co. Wicklow.
“Our eldest daughter was eleven at the time, so we felt the children were at the right age for such a big move. It was definitely the right decision. We settled in very quickly, and people were so helpful and friendly to us from day one. The girls are all grown up now, so we’ve raised our kids, and these days our grandkids, here in Cork. We couldn’t be happier to call it our home.”
Cork itself has changed dramatically over those four decades too, with a huge variety of new shops, eateries and late-night venues popping up across the city.
Changes
But not all the changes have been positive. Outside many of those beautiful buildings on Cork’s streets, Ann notes, you’ll find people sleeping rough each night.
“I’ve noticed a huge increase in homelessness over the years. What really gets to me is whenever I’m walking through the city centre, I see so many people lying outside buildings under duvets. It upsets me terribly.
Your traditional homeless person would have been an older man on the street. Now, we work with people aged 18 to 80”
“I can’t help thinking it could be one of my own family, one of my daughters, lying there. I’ve seen young people like them sleeping out on the streets more and more over the past few years.”
The numbers confirm what Ann sees. Last year brought record need for Cork Simon’s services, with nearly 1,500 people presenting to the charity because they were experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Cork Simon has been a presence in Cork for over 50 years—just slightly longer than Ann herself. Like her, the charity has witnessed a dramatic shift in the city’s challenges.
“Homelessness is different to what it was fifty years ago,” explains Leona Walsh, Cork Simon’s Legacies Manager. “The profile of the people we support has changed, and the complexity of their needs has changed too. Your traditional homeless person would have been an older man on the street. Now, we work with people aged 18 to 80.
“Every homeless person has a different story. It could be mental health issues or some kind of childhood trauma; it could be relationship breakdown or addiction. There can be loads of reasons. You’ll rarely find that it’s one thing.”
Vocation
It was exactly this – knowing that homelessness can happen to anyone, that first compelled Ann to support Cork Simon. For longer than she can remember, she has been donating to the charity every month.
“I think I first heard about Cork Simon through a friend. It’s so long ago I can’t remember! But since then, I’ve always been hugely interested in their work and how I can support it. I’ve been to the odd meeting over the years to learn more about what they’re doing, and I have to say they’re just incredible.
“I’ve visited one of Cork Simon’s high-support houses, and it’s lovely – a nice, warm bed and a safe space for those who need it. I just think the work they do at Cork Simon is wonderful, both staff and volunteers. They’re out all hours, day and night. I have huge respect for them. If I was a bit younger, I’d love to be out doing the same and helping them!”
Recently, Ann decided to help the charity in a very different way. While she has supported Cork Simon throughout her life, she now wants to continue helping them even beyond it.
I’d like to feel that when I’m gone, at least I’ll know that I’ve contributed something to the charity and helped them in some way”
“About two years ago, when Declan and I decided to make our Wills, I said to him that I’d like to leave something to charity. He was very supportive of it, as were my daughters. They know how much it means to me to try to make a difference for Cork Simon.
“I’ll be honest – I feel a huge sense of relief now that it’s all signed and sealed. It was a lot more straightforward than I expected and didn’t take much time at all. Having it done and dusted gave me a huge sense of peace.
“I’d like to feel that when I’m gone, at least I’ll know that I’ve contributed something to the charity and helped them in some way to continue their hard work into the future.
Will
“No matter how small or big the gift in your Will is, I think anything would be appreciated by Cork Simon because they need all the help they can get.”
Leona echoes this sentiment and is keen for people to know that no donation is insignificant.
“You might decide to leave 10% of whatever is left in your Will after debts are paid. A residual gift is hugely valuable because that type of gift doesn’t devalue over time. If you make your Will today and die in twenty years, what you give to Cork Simon is still 10% of what’s left. But if you say you’re going to leave €2,000, that sum devalues because it won’t be worth as much in twenty years.
“Some people feel that they need to be really wealthy to leave a gift in their Will, but that’s not the case. The vast majority of people who leave donations are people like me, on normal incomes. Gifts can be small or large. They all make a difference.”
Ann is certainly hopeful that her own gift will make a difference to Cork Simon in the years to come. She has a vision of what her adopted home of Cork might look like in the future – and is confident that the charity are the only ones who might be able to make it a reality.
They can only do so much. It’s an uphill battle, and it’s getting worse all the time”
“I would love to never see another person sleeping rough on the streets ever again; for everyone to have a home like Cork has given to me,” she shares. “I know that’s the ultimate goal for Cork Simon too, and they’re working so hard to get there. But they can only do so much. It’s an uphill battle, and it’s getting worse all the time.
“I don’t know if homelessness can ever be fixed altogether, but I so hope it will be. You never know what’s ahead!”
To find out more about how you can help make Ann’s vision a reality and to support Cork Simon, please visit www.corksimon.ie/gifts-in-wills
