Focus Ireland Chief Executive, Pat Dennigan, has spoken out against the growing catastrophe of homelessness, declaring that it is not an unavoidable issue and can be solved with a well-devised policy approach. These remarks were made during the launch of Focus Ireland’s annual report for 2023, where Dennigan expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation wherein as many as 4,401 children across 2,096 families are living in crisis accommodation. The aforementioned figures were made public by the government in the previous week.
According to Dennigan, society as a whole needs to step up and make a strong demand for the welfare of the numerous children whose formative years are being wasted, one day at a time, due to homelessness. Focus Ireland, a predominant charity catering to homeless families and minors threatened with homelessness, managed to assist 1,851 families in the previous year – marking an 11 percent increase from the figures of 2022. This included help to 4,223 minors.
The charity’s efforts also encompassed aiding 450 single adult households as well as 486 families in successfully transitioning out of homelessness. Additionally, 657 households were assisted in maintaining their residing conditions.
In reference to the most recent data concerning homelessness, Dennigan stressed on the alarming figures of July in which 14,429 individuals were residing in emergency shelters, showing an increase of 126 from June’s tally, a 12 percent increase since July 2023. The saddening fact is that the summer, which is supposed to be a period of joy and freedom for young children, has been completely overshadowed by their ongoing ordeal with homelessness.
Concluding his remarks, Dennigan emphasised the urgency of the situation, reminding everyone that even though the problem is profound, it should not result in complete dejection and loss of hope. He asserted that it is absolutely crucial to persist in the belief that homelessness is not a certainty and can be brought to an end with the implementation of incisive policy measures.
Anselm Leahy, a man in his fifties, is one of the many individuals Focus Ireland helped last year. Leahy experienced homelessness in the late 1990s when the local authority dwelling he occupied, along with his late mother, was given back to the council following his mother’s shift to elderly housing. Leahy, grappling with active addiction, spend a full year in non-permanent living conditions before sleeping outdoors and in shelters, stating that such a lifestyle was not bearable for him.
A turning point for Leahy came about in 2001 when he acquired a residence from Focus Ireland in Dublin and received practical training in navigating daily life chores like cooking. He then undertook literacy classes and overcame his addiction, in addition to learning how to drive. His opportunity to continue further education came in the form of an adult learning course which led him to University College Dublin, where he earned a certification in drug counselling theory and intervention techniques. It was during his tenure at UCD that he discovered his dyslexia diagnosis, which clarified his previous struggles with conventional education during his childhood — an ordeal that involved severe punishment from his educators.
Leahy mentioned that he began consuming alcohol at the age of 14 as a means to dull the pain he endured at that phase of his life. Since achieving sobriety, he has actively assisted others dealing with addiction. Currently, he resides in an apartment funded by Focus Ireland, and attributes the dramatic transformation of his life to the backing and guidance of the charity. “Focus laid the groundwork for everything,” he concludes.”