Download the 2002 Annual report here - Focus Ireland

Happy Birthday Aylward Green
Aylward Green celebrated its first
birthday in 2002. A unique initiative,
it is the first and, to date, only project
in Ireland providing purpose built
quality emergency accommodation for
families who are homeless. The
project has thirteen emergency two
and three bedroom homes, as well as
eleven long term homes.
The families living in the emergency
accommodation have mostly come
from B&Bs and hostels. When
families come to Aylward Green, staff
in the project assess their needs and
provide them with appropriate
support to help them move on to
independent living. Fundamental to
the project however is the
involvement of the families
themselves in assessing their own
needs. Staff asks participants to look
at where they are, where they want to
be, and what they think is blocking
them. They need to examine why they
lost their home, and where necessary
accept responsibility for issues that
may have contributed. Staff can then
aid them address these issues in
order to move on.
Children who have been homeless are
hugely affected by the insecurity they
have known so programmes for them
are intrinsic to the project’s work. A
breakfast club is provided for the
children before they go to school, but
the club is about more than just
eating breakfast, it’s a place where
young people can talk together in a
social setting, eat a nutritious
breakfast and interact with staff.
Homework clubs, holiday programmes
and one to one work are provided, via
the AIB Schoolmate Programme.
Children enjoy the structure of the
project. It adds to their sense of self
and their sense of security, something
many would not have experienced in
the past. For many of them
homelessness is about ‘loss’ - the loss
of somewhere to play, invite their
friends, do their homework or simply a
place they can feel safe.
All our staff and customers would
agree that Aylward Green’s first year
has been a resounding success but
there have certainly been problems
with move-on accommodation which
has resulted in many families
staying for an average of six months.
However, the bigger picture is about
a longer term investment in families
who otherwise would have remained
in a homeless situation longer and
whose children would not have the
opportunities that many children
take for granted.
MARK’S STORY
Mark was in his early twenties when his partner Jane gave birth to twin girls. He and Jane were living with Jane’s mother in
a local authority house at the time the twins were born. Jane became terminally ill and only lived until her babies were 18
months old. After her death Mark and Jane’s mother raised the children. Three years later Jane’s mother died leaving Mark
alone with the twins. Because Mark had no succession rights to the house he was evicted by the local authority and went to
live in emergency B&B accommodation with his twin daughters. Three months later the Homeless Persons Unit referred
Mark to Focus Ireland’s Aylward Green project. He was given emergency housing and his children were linked with the
childcare facilities available at the project. Project staff supported Mark in his application for a secure home for himself and
his children. Mark’s little girls are now five years old and are attending school, they also attend the junior after school club in
the project. Their school reports say they are well balanced little girls. Mark was recently offered a local authority house
back in his own community and is due to move in May 2003. He will be linked in with Focus Ireland’s Community
Settlement Team who will help him make the move successfully.
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