Focus Ireland

Focus Ireland is a nonprofit organisation based in Dublin, Ireland that provides services for people who are homeless and people at risk of homelessness in Ireland. It was founded by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy in 1985,[1][2] and is one of the largest housing and homelessness organisations in Ireland.[3] It provides services in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny, Sligo, Kildare, Carlow, Tipperary, Wexford and Waterford.

Focus Ireland
Charity logo as of 2020
Formation1985
FounderSister Stanislaus Kennedy
TypeCharitable organisation
Registration no.CHY7220
Legal statusNon-profit
FocusHousing and homelessness
Location
Region served
Ireland
WebsiteOfficial Site

The charity's stated mission is "to advance the right of people-out-of-home to live in a place they call home through quality services, research, and advocacy". In 2017 it spent €26.3 million to that end.[4] Focus Ireland receives approximately half of its budget each year through State funding and has to raise the other 50% through donations from the public, events and corporate support.

According to its 2018 annual report, Focus Ireland helped over 15,000 people in 2018 who were homeless or at risk of losing their home.[2] According to the same report, the charity's housing association arm had provided over 1,100 homes to individuals and families in Ireland.[2]

As of May 2020, there were nearly 10,000 people homeless, including over 3,000 children, and Focus Ireland called for a review of the supports offered by the state.[5] The charity also called for an urgent increase in the provision of social and affordable rental housing and for the state to move away from its reliance on providing housing in the private rented market where rents are constantly increasing.

Focus Ireland's work includes lobbying for changes in public policy and provision for those experiencing homelessness.[6] As of the 21st century, Focus Ireland has started to focus on preventing homelessness and on a 'Housing Led' approach by providing a secure home first.[7][8]

Under Focus Ireland's 2017 - 2020 Strategy Plan, the organisation's stated aims focus on preventing homelessness and supporting people who are homeless to move into secure accommodation.[6]

References
  1. Depuis, Nicola (2009). Mná na hÉireann: Women who Shaped Ireland. Mercier Press. p. 127. ISBN 9781856356459.
  2. "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). focusireland.ie. 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. "'Sister Stan saved my life': Focus Ireland founder to feature in documentary". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. "Focus Ireland - Annual Consolidated Statement of Financial Accounts - 2017" (PDF). focusireland.ie. 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  5. "Homelessness numbers fall below 10,000 but charity anxious about Covid-19 measures". breakingnews.ie. Landmark Digital Ltd. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  6. "Strategy Plan 2017-2020" (PDF). focusireland.ie. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. "Focus Ireland Youth Housing" (PDF). focusireland.ie. May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2020. In recent years in Ireland we have started to lean more towards working to prevent homelessness and recently to take a 'Housing Led' approach, providing a secure home first
  8. "Meet the team taking chronic rough sleepers off the streets of Dublin and giving them their own home". thejournal.ie. Journal Media. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2020.


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