Focus Ireland says it needs donations more than ever after an 11 percent jump in people using the charity so far this year.
The charity provides services across Ireland including in: Waterford, Cork, Dublin. Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo.
As the crisis continues to deepen Focus Ireland says it has helped 15,000 people (who are homeless or at risk of losing their home) in the first 11 months of this year compared to 13,500 in the same period in 2017.
The charity says while it receives some funding from government, it needs to raise up to 50 percent of its budget from public donations.
John O'Haire, from Focus Ireland, says it's particularly tough to see families in trouble at this time of year:
"It is awful to see anyone homeless and to see families with their children coming in to us at this time of year every evening is terrible. We really do depend on donations now more than ever so our services are here to help people and can cope with the constantly rising demand. If people could please give what they can afford to support our urgent Christmas appeal. Any donation will help us to directly support these families and individuals and also help fund our work to prevent others from becoming homeless in the first place. People can donate at www.focusireland.ie or by phoning 1850 204 205."
One family who are homeless and living in hotel emergency accommodation feature in Focus Ireland's Christmas appeal. The mother Fiona wrote in a letter about how the family are struggling but Focus Ireland's help has made a big difference.
She said: "We have our case manager from Focus Ireland and I don't think we could have coped with it all without her and Focus Ireland. They help us a lot. She added: "Sometimes I lie awake at night and I can't cope. I can't believe we are still in this situation. But I know I can talk to our case manager at any time for a shoulder to cry on. My children love all the Focus Ireland staff. They almost feel like family now."
Meanwhile, Mr. O'Haire also spoke passionately of the terrible impact being homeless has on children as she said:
"It really is heart-breaking to know that some of these children have been born into homelessness. Some of them will spend their first Christmas with their family forced to live in one little room together. They are our children too and we have a duty as a society to provide a safe home for them. We have a duty to protect the childhoods of these children and to make sure they do not suffer from being homeless for long periods of time."
Focus Ireland said that while the crisis is deepening the problem would be much worse again without the great work of its staff 365 days of the year.
This work from January to Nov this year includes:
- Helped over 350 families out of homelessness so far this year
- Served 40,000 meals at the Focus Ireland Coffee Shop.
- Provides homes for 1200 households around the country who were previously homeless or at risk.
Focus Ireland stressed that every euro donated counts in the battle against homelessness as 89 cents of every euro received by the charity goes directly to services to support people who are homeless and those at risk. Focus Ireland said its new campaign aims to keep homelessness firmly on the public and political agenda in the countdown to Christmas.
