Focus Ireland
Focus Ireland is a nonprofit organisation based in Dublin, Republic of Ireland that provides services for homeless people. It is the largest national voluntary association in Ireland.[1]
Focus Ireland was founded by Sister Stanislaus Kennedy in 1985.[1] Its 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 2006 it spent €16.5 million to that end.
Focus Ireland works to influence the social and political environment in which Ireland operates by,undertaking a programme of national and local research projects, policy analysis and development. This work helps the organisation to identify the needs of their customers and to lobby for changes in public policy and provision for those experiencing homelessness. By developing evidence based research and policy they hope to influence young people. Focus Ireland launched a national TV and radio campaign in November 2007 which aimed to raise awareness and help breakdown stereotypes around homelessness. Focus Ireland hopes the campaign will support our efforts to galvinise greater public and political support for long-term solution to combat and prevent homelessness. It also aims to raise awareness of Focus Ireland and build support for our work as one of the leading housing and homeless charities in Ireland. This campaign will be ongoing and will feature on TV and radio again at times during 2008. The campaign can be viewed online below. The current aims of Focus Ireland's policy activitys under their strategy to 2010 are:
- To influence policy and practice towards the prevention, alleviation and elimination of homelessness in Ireland by leading a process that identifies, investigates and analyses policy and practice issues impacting on the work of Focus Ireland including the areas of housing and accommodation, health, education, income and welfare;
- To undertake policy development and formulation that leads to sought after change and reform across all aspects of social and economic policy to ensure that the quality and extent of homeless and other relevant services are improved and the prevention and elimination of homelessness in Irish society is worked towards;
- To participate in coalitions with other agencies that can lead to positive change in policy and practice issues impacting on the work of Focus Ireland.
References
- 1 2 Depuis, Nicola (2009). Mná na hÉireann: Women who Shaped Ireland. Mercier Press. p. 127. ISBN 9781856356459. line feed character in
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