Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have listed questions that are often asked about Depaul Ireland.
If you have another question for us, please feel free to complete the query from at the bottom of this page or explore our website further for a comprehensive look at our work.
Click on the question to move down the page to the answer.
1. Who are Depaul Ireland and what do they do?
3.Where does Depaul Ireland fit in to overall homeless services in Ireland and Northern Ireland?
4.What is it that distinguishes Depaul from other charities working with homeless people?
5.Why are you not known in the community yet?
6.How much does Depaul Ireland need to fundraise this year?
7.Where can I find more information?
1. Who are Depaul Ireland and what do they do?
Established in 2001, Depaul Ireland is a relatively new Dublin and Belfast based charity working with men, women and families who are homeless.
Depaul Ireland currently -
Manages 15 specialised services between Dublin, Belfast and most recently in Dungannon
Provides 369 bed spaces per night for homeless people
Supports over 1110 people each year to make changes in their lives that will help them to move forward
Employs over 200 staff and engages over 150 volunteers
Focuses services to aid those most in need in the homeless community
Works with each person or family on a one to one basis to get the support they need to make the small or big changes in their lives to realise their own potential
The main focus of our work is to provide both crisis and longer term accommodation and support for homeless people with acute needs.
This means that we work with people who many others struggle to work with street drinkers, women leaving prison, families who others have given up on, those with behavioural, self-harm and addiction problems. We do this through accommodation services throughout Ireland (5 Dublin, 3 Belfast, 1 Dungannon, 1 Derry). In addition to accommodation services, we also offer outreach to prevent people from becoming homeless in the Ballymun area of Dublin and a training programme for young people in Belfast with little prospect of finding work.
While SVP and Depaul share common origins and values, they are separate organisations. SVP works across the board to reduce poverty and its impact in Ireland generally - including visitations to people in their homes. The Society of St Vincent Depaul was one of the founding partners of Depaul Ireland and we still collaborate with them at times. Depaul Ireland's primary aim is to address homelessness.
3. Where does Depaul Ireland fit in to overall homeless services in Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Through Depaul's low threshold policy we are the leading provider of accommodation to homeless people with acute needs and we are also a leading provider of emergency accommodation.
The acute needs of Depaul's client group (essentially challenging behaviour and addictions) would regularly exclude them from the other accommodation providers. Depaul opened Dublin's first "wet house" in Aungier Street in 2003 and offers one of the only hostels for homeless people with an active drug addiction.
Depaul's support is often the only support this client group can access and significantly reduces the harm they cause to themselves.
4.What is it that distinguishes Depaul from other charities working with homeless people?
Depaul accepts their client group 'where they are at' and works with them on that basis. This, as we say, is 'a progressive response to homelessness'.
Depaul adopts a highly flexible approach and is always open to finding new ways to work with people. Depaul is a very values driven organisation that relies on its ethos to guide its day to day work.
5.Why are you not known in the community yet?
When Depaul Ireland commenced its work in Ireland back in 2001, we received support from our founding partners including the SVP. This included some financial support. As a result we focused at that time on our direct service development, but now we have grown to a size that makes it essential to grow our own profile and fundraising base in order to be an independent and sustainable organisation moving forward.
6.How much does Depaul Ireland need to fundraise this year?
To continue vital work in 2011 we need to raise our target of €400,000. Donations of all sizes will make it possible for us to make this happen, so we greatly appreciate your help.
Though the funding climate is uncertain, we are working hard to fundraise for the additional money needed to run our innovative services through engaging the support of people like you. We are currently working hard to raise our profile and build a supporter base which will help sustain the organisation into the future.
7.Where can I find more information?
You can find loads of information on this website and on our social networking links. If you have additional questions, would like to talk to someone directly, or would like to request a visit to one of our services, feel free to contact us!
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