SLEEP OUT TO SHINE LIGHT ON HOMELESS

AS you tuck yourself into your cosy bed this Saturday night, spare a thought for those whose pillow may be the steps of St Peter’s, with cardboard for a blanket.

It will be this in mind that 20 local people will take part in a sponsored sleep out on West Street to highlight current homeless crisis and to support the work that Drogheda Homeless Aid is doing in alleviating it.

This is an important event to raise awareness of the existence of homelessness in the county and the need to raise much needed funds to support the work of Drogheda Homeless Aid.

The image of homelessness that some people have is of a phenomenon confined to Dublin; unfortunately, it is a reality in Drogheda and everywhere else too,” says DHA manager Maureen Ward. “Organisations like Drogheda Homeless Aid and other regional organisations are much needed and extremely valuable to those who require our services.”

Drogheda Homeless Aid has supported 120 individuals in their emergency accommodation facility in the past year and 33 were assisted in exiting homelessness and are now living independently.

Additionally, DHA provided over 21,500 hot meals last year for residents and for former residents as well as for older people living in the Drogheda area.

“We have also increased our number of social houses from five in 2017 to eight in 2018 with the support of Louth County Council, through CAS funding and through local fundraising, helping to house homeless men, women and families from the Local Authority housing list, with an additional 11 people including children leaving emergency accommodation being provided with homes by DHA in the past month alone,” adds Maureen.

“Drogheda Homeless Aid is once again fortunate to have support from of local businesses and Drogheda Chamber of Commerce, with a number signing up for the sleep out to help DHA realise their target of €50,000”.

Over the years’ participants have reported that the sleep out is a great way to understand the reason behind why they are fundraising: to tackle homelessness.

Watch out for DHA’s collectors on December 8th and support the 2018 sleep out by giving as generously as in previous years.