Estuary Way
Estuary Way is a new supported transitional accommodation service in Cork City for young adults aged 18 to 24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Each resident has their own home and access to practical, therapeutic and pathways support.
A safe home and the support to move forward
Young people who have experienced homelessness often carry a history of instability, loss and trauma. Estuary Way is designed around that reality. Each young person has a place of their own, a consistent team around them, and an individual plan shaped by what they want to achieve. Supports bring together day to day guidance, clinical input and opportunities to reconnect with education, training or work. The aim is to help residents build stability, develop confidence, and prepare for a sustainable move to a settled home in the community.
Who This Service Is For
Estuary Way is for young adults in the Cork City area who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who would benefit from stable accommodation alongside therapeutic support, while preparing for independent living.
The young adults referred to Estuary Way may:
• Be leaving care, another supported setting or an unstable home situation.
• Need practical or therapeutic support to build confidence and manage everyday life.
• Want help to reconnect with education, begin training or move towards employment.
Therapeutic support from a multidisciplinary team
Every young person at Estuary Way has access to a skilled therapeutic team, led on site by a Senior Clinical Psychologist and supported by the wider Childhood Matters clinical team under our Clinical Director. Support is trauma-informed, relationship-based and shaped around each young person's own goals.
Clinical supports are available in-house, including occupational therapy, clinical psychology, addiction support and health promotion, so young people can get the help they need without navigating multiple services.
Safe, independent living in the heart of Mahon
Estuary Way offers 38 modular homes in a community setting in Mahon, Cork City, giving young adults their own space with the independence to practise everyday living skills. Tenancy management is provided by an Approved Housing Body, with Childhood Matters managing the service and its support team.
A shared management roster across seven days and rotating out-of-hours on-call cover mean there is always someone to turn to.
Pathways to education, training and employment
A dedicated Pathways Co-ordinator helps each young person plan their next step. Young people at Estuary Way have access to the Childhood Matters secondary school (our Leaving Certificate School) and to vocational training programmes, so that learning and work opportunities sit alongside the support they receive at home.
Progression planning begins early and is reviewed regularly, with the goal of a sustained move on to education, employment and settled housing.
A place of their own, and the support to build what comes next.
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Outcomes
Estuary Way is a new pilot service, and we are committed to measuring and reporting what it achieves. We aim to support young people to:
- Move from homelessness or housing insecurity into stable accommodation
- Improve their emotional wellbeing and build positive, trusting relationships
- Engage in education, training or employment
- Develop the independent living skills needed to sustain a tenancy
Outcomes will be tracked through a Year 1 report prepared by Childhood Matters, an independent evaluation at Year 3, and a Social Return on Investment analysis. Progress is overseen by the Estuary Way Oversight Group, which includes Cork City Council, Tusla, the HSE and University College Cork.
Referral Details
- Referrals to Estuary Way are made through our statutory partners Cork City Council, Tusla and the HSE, and considered by an Admissions and Discharge Panel, which ensures that places are offered fairly and that the service is the right fit for each young person.
- Eligible young people are aged 18 to 24, are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and are linked to the Cork City area. Each referral is considered on the basis of the young person’s needs, readiness and the support the service can offer.
- If you are a professional who would like to make a referral, or you would like to talk through whether Estuary Way might be right for a young person you work with, please get in touch with our team using the details below.
Is Estuary Way open?
Yes. Estuary Way provides supported accommodation for young adults in Cork who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.
What age group does the service support?
Estuary Way supports young adults aged 18 to 25.
Can a young adult refer themselves?
No. Referrals are made through an agreed process involving the partner agencies.
Can a parent or family member make a referral?
No. Estuary Way does not accept direct referrals from members of the public. A parent or family member can speak to the professional or agency currently supporting the young adult
What support is available?
Residents receive accommodation and practical support, with access to therapeutic, mental health, wellbeing, education and employment services.
Are staff available at night?
Yes. Staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
How long can someone live at Estuary Way?
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The expected or maximum length of stay has not yet been confirmed.
Could this service help someone you support?
When you’re ready, follow the referral steps to get in touch with our team.
