Download the 2002 Annual report here - Focus Ireland

Social Exclusion, Food Poverty
and Homelessness in Dublin
This research study, funded by the
Combat Poverty Agency began in
2002 in response to the identification
of food poverty as an emerging
important issue across a range of
social policy domains including social
welfare, health, education and
housing. The broad objective of the
study is to investigate the nature and
extent of food poverty among a
sample population of adults who are
out-of-home and availing of homeless
services in the Dublin area in order to:
- Input to policy formulation to
tackle food poverty
- Affect positive change in the
delivery of homeless services
Caretakers Hostel
Caretakers is a place where young
people (16 – 21 years of age) who
have experience of substance misuse
and the homeless street scene and
are currently living out of home, can
enjoy a nights accommodation in a
safe, non-judgemental, drug free
environment. The project provides
nine beds, and complementary
support services and activities
during the day. The primary aim of
the facility is to offer a
comprehensive service to this group
including structure, support, and
guidance. This facility is offered by
Focus Ireland and supported by St
Vincent de Paul, Irish Famine
Commemoration Fund and the Irish
Youth Foundation.
Homelessness and Health –
a series of 10 modules for the
nursing degree programmes
The development of modules for the
nursing degree programmes is our
first foray into the development of
materials for third level students.
Our growing awareness of health
issues, including mental health,
compounded by the realisation that
many health staff were often not
familiar with homelessness and the
health issues it presents, prompted
Focus Ireland’s development of 10
modules. Each one examines the
different health issues facing people
who are out-of-home.
Scribblestown, Finglas
This housing project is the first of its
kind undertaken by a voluntary
housing agency. The project is being
developed for eight traveller families.
The families have been involved in
the development and design of the
project from the outset.
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