Almost 350 people in Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon accessed emergency accommodation during the month of June. This included 97 families and 204 children, according to figures released this week.
The statistics were published as part of an awareness campaign to highlight this year’s Shine A Light sleep-out in aid of Focus Ireland, the nonprofit organisation which provides services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Ireland. It was founded by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy in 1985, and is one of the largest housing and homelessness organisations in the country.
It is calling on people to host a sleep-out in their homes, workplaces, or communities on October 13 to help end family homelessness. Its Shine A Light fundraiser aims to raise €1.2m to help end family homelessness. There were 1,839 families, including children, in emergency accommodation in Ireland as of July, an increase of 29 per cent on last year’s figures.
Demand for Focus Ireland’s services is at an all-time high. Bord Gáis Energy’s support of the Shine A Light campaign forms part of an ongoing partnership with Focus Ireland which began in 2015. To date it has supported over 7,000 families and directly prevented 458 vulnerable families from becoming homeless in Ireland. Last year the partnership was extended until 2025 and Bord Gáis Energy has pledged a further €2 million to help tackle family homelessness, bringing its total commitment in funds to €4.4 million.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, television presenter and fashion designer Brendan Courtney urged people to join him on the sleep-out to help end family homelessness.
“The latest figures show that homelessness profoundly impacts our society. There are thousands of families across Ireland, including children, who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes and we need to come together and help combat this issue. By hosting your own sleep-out at home, at your workplace, local sports club, or community hall, we can raise vital funds for Focus Ireland and prevent more families from becoming homeless. The goal this year is to raise €1.2m and I am urging everyone to sign up and donate to this important cause.”
Focus Ireland’s Kelly Ann Byrne says every night thousands of people are facing the uncertainty and fear of having nowhere to call home. “Having experienced firsthand the work of Focus Ireland in supporting families to rebuild their lives, I urge you to gather your friends, family or colleagues and host your own sleep out to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland. With your support, together we can end homelessness.
For more information on how to sign up or host your own sleep out, visit shinealight.focusireland.ie
