Increased demand for services, reports homeless charity

Focus Ireland, an organisation which works with homeless people throughout the country, has reported a sharp rise in the number of people accessing its services.

The charity, which today announced a new campaign aimed at breaking down stereotypes about people who are homeless, said it has seen a 13 per cent increase in demand for its services due to the economic downturn.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne launched Focus Ireland's annual public awareness campaign at an event in the Mansion House in Dublin this morning.

The charity said the rise in demand for its services showed the impact of the economic situation is already having on some of the most vulnerable families and single people in society.

Focus Ireland chief executive Joyce Loughnan said: "There has been a noticeable rise in demand for our services in recent months. We supported just over 5,300 people from Jan to the end of Oct last year."

"However, in the same period this year we have already supported over 6,000 people. This shows a sharp rise in demand for our services of 13 per cent (over 700 people) which is made up of people who are homeless and others at serious risk of becoming homeless. We have developed some of our services to meet rising demand in the regions including Sligo, Kilkenny and also addded to our presence in Limerick and Waterford," she added. 

Focus Ireland said its new public awareness campaign will help efforts to create better understanding of the different reasons people become homeless while also showing there are effective solutions to help overcome and prevent homelessness.

It is also aimed at building support for Focus Ireland's work as the charity relies heavily on generous public and corporate supporters to raise at least one third of its annual running costs to support over 6,000 people and also provide a permanent place to call home for 670 households nationwide. 

The charity said it has supported over 220 households to secure a home so far this year. A total of 82 of these homes were provided directly though Focus Ireland's housing progammes. Other households were helped to secure a home through the charity's tenancy support and settlement work under which staff work with local authorities around the country to support households at risk of losing their homes.

Focus Ireland said is aiming to provide settle 2010 households by the year 2010 under its five-year strategy.

According to the charity, there are up to 5,000 people who are homeless in Ireland at any one time. A small percentage of individuals sleep rough while the majority stay in emergency accommodation such as hostels.