Focus Ireland appeal to help the homeless

There has been a lot of talk about homelessness in the last two weeks with the Taoiseach claiming the number of homeless men, women and children in Ireland is low by international standards.

The reality is sadly very much different. Last Christmas 2,400 children were homeless nationally.

This has now shot up by more than 25% to a record total of 3,194 children homeless. When we include adults there are now a shocking total of 8,492 people homeless nationwide.

It is clear that the housing and homelessness crisis is getting worse. But we should not be wasting time and energy arguing about comparisons to other countries.

We, in Focus Ireland Sligo, put our energy into helping those impacted, and finding practical solutions. We need to end homelessness in Ireland because it is morally and fundamentally wrong.

We work in partnership with Sligo County Council, Social Services and other bodies. The numbers accessing Focus Ireland’s services in Sligo jumped by 50% last year, with the majority (172 people) looking for advice or information on accommodation options.

Focus Ireland has been one of the key organisations working in the Cranmore Regeneration office since 2008.

Focus Ireland’s tenancy support services, and Advice & Information service, have worked closely with families and people in the estate and this work has had a very positive impact.

Focus Ireland also has 14 apartments in Sligo Town for single people along with accommodation for two families. We also manage 23 apartments on behalf of the local authority, in Sligo Town.

We have seen a steady rise in numbers presenting, and of those who are at serious risk of losing their home in Sligo.

So far in 2017,218 individuals have accessed our Advice & Information service in Sligo.

This is what we are working to do across the country. Our Family Team helps one family a day to secure a home and escape the nightmare of homelessness.

However, at the same time at least two more families are still losing their homes and becoming homeless every day. More single people are also bweing forced into homelessness due to rising rents, evictions and a critical shortage of affordable housing.

How can we stand by while families and their children who are homeless are forced to live in one hotel room for months at a time?

There is nowhere safe for the children to play, do their homework or for the family to even cook a meal.

This is causing terrible damage for these families and also the many single people who are homeless stuck in hostels or some even sleeping on the streets.

Focus Ireland continues to put forward realistic policy solutions to help prevent and end homelessness.

We do this work through our 70 lifeline services, at Lower John Street, Sligo and around the country.

While the crisis is still deepening the situation would be much worse without the lifeline services and housing we provide.

We are there when people need us. We have already supported 600 more people this year compared to the same period in 2016.

Meanwhile we have also supported 290 families and 556 children to secure a home and escape homelessness so far this year.

While the State supports some of our work Focus Ireland also has to raise 40% (or €2 out of every €5) of what it costs to keep our services and housing running through donations & corporate support.

We work hard to support families and individuals every day and not just at Christmas, but we depend on donations now more than ever to raise funds so our services can cope with the constantly rising demand. I am asking people to please give what they can afford to support our urgent Christmas appeal.

Focus Ireland always stresses that every euro donated counts in the battle against homelessness as 89 cents of every euro received goes directly to our services to support people who are homeless and those at risk.

Any donation will support our work challenging homelessness and changing lives as we help over 13,500 each year who are homeless or at risk.

We also provide over 800 homes nationwide. People can please donate at www. focusireland.ie or phone 1850204205.