Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy call on the nation to sign up and sleep out to help end family homelessness.
Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are calling on people across the country to take part in Shine A Light Night on October 15 by sleeping out in their homes or gardens to help raise vital funds to help end family homelessness in Ireland.
The campaign was launched today by comedian Rory O’Connor, aka Rory’s Stories, who will be taking part in the initiative by sleeping out in his garden with his family on October 15.
Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy aim to raise €1.5m on the night and the funds raised will go towards services preventing families in Ireland from becoming homeless, whilst creating sustainable long-term solutions to homelessness in Ireland. To date the partnership has supported over 7,000 families and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from becoming homeless.
According to latest figures from Focus Ireland, 8,212 people are homeless in Ireland which includes 953 families and 2,189 children. Covid-19 has meant those experiencing homelessness were more vulnerable than ever, and consecutive lockdowns resulted in more families and children living together in crowded spaces for extended periods of time. Now as the country emerges from the pandemic and the temporary eviction bans and rent freezes are lifted, the numbers of people facing homelessness are on the rise.
People across Ireland can get involved in Shine A Light Night by signing up to sleep out at home on 15 October on shinealight.focusireland.ie On the same night, business leaders will be invited to sleep out at socially distanced events taking place across the country at the Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin, in Limerick at King John’s Castle and at Cork’s historic Spike Island. Companies can also sign up to support the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.
“I am honoured to be taking part in this year’s Shine A Light Night to help raise funds for Focus Ireland. Their services are so very vital to vulnerable families and individuals across the country and their efforts make a real difference to people’s lives. One night can really change a lifetime so I am urging everyone to show their support by signing up and sleeping out on 15 October. Together we can help make a real difference. On the night, I’ll be sleeping out in my garden and I’ll be sharing more information on how people can get involved in the campaign or donate over the next few weeks on my social media channels,” Rory stated.
For further information and to sign up to participate in Shine A Light Night 2021 visit shinealight.focusireland.ie
Since the Shine A Light event began in 2012, the fundraiser has raised over €7.1m for people experiencing homelessness in Ireland. Over the last five years Bord Gáis Energy has donated more than €2.4 million to combat family homelessness as well as contributing significant employee volunteer hours and resources to the cause.
