DEMANDS ON the Salvation Army’s services in Ireland are likely to increase in the current economic climate, one of the organisation’s leaders has said.
On a visit to Dublin yesterday, Commissioner John Matear, the Salvation Army’s territorial commander in the UK and Ireland, said it was realistic to anticipate that more people would find themselves in stressful family scenarios because of the economic situation and in need of counselling or accommodation from the charity.
The Salvation Army, an international Christian church and charity, has 20 churches and eight social centres in Ireland as well as four homeless shelters in Dublin.
The commissioner and his wife, Commissioner Betty Matear, territorial president of women’s ministries and moderator of the Free Churches, were welcomed in the Mansion House yesterday by Dublin Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne.
The Scottish husband and wife team were making their first official visit to Dublin during a tour of the international church.
Commissioner John Matear said requests for help from the Salvation Army would be likely to increase because of the economic climate.
“We would hope to be able to meet those needs,” he said.
A report on the future direction of the Salvation Army’s work in Ireland based on study into the causes of social exclusion and homelessness is due to be released in the summer. A similar study in the UK confirmed the importance of healthy family relationships in childhood, the commissioner said.
Commissioner Betty Matear said they felt keenly that they had to be a voice for the forgotten people. There were increased challenges in the current climate for clients. “To get them into employment is quite a challenge.”
She hoped some of the organisation’s programmes would not be put in jeopardy or reduced because of the downturn.
However, she said that the downturn could have advantages, making it easier to source move-on accommodation for people, which was hard to find during the boom.
The Lord Mayor said at times of economic unrest the service provided by the Salvation Army gave great comfort to those who had nowhere else to turn.
She thanked them for their long and dedicated service to the city.
“In particular, I would like to acknowledge the non-judgmental and respectful manner in which members of the Salvation Army offer support and friendship to Dublin citizens regardless of class or creed.”
