Download No Place Like Home resource here - Focus Ireland

Tackling Homelessness• With the help of Cárta Oibre 2A, elicit from the children the causes and effects of homelessnessexplored during Aonad 2.• Elicit from them the ways in which people who are out of home may need to be supported, e.g.counselling, housing, educational support, medical care, etc. Elicit also who might offer that supportto them. Explain that many organisations work tirelessly to help those who are out of home. One ofthose organisations is Focus Ireland.• Explain to the children that Focus Ireland supports those who are out of home throughout Ireland andthat they deliver three categories of service: crisis services, transition services andsettlement services.• Crisis services cater for more immediate needs of those who are out of home.• Transition services offer people housing for six to eight months, while offering them anopportunity to experience independent living before moving on to more long-termaccommodation.• Settlement services provide support for those who have been successfully housed.• Elicit from the children why those who are housed may still need support. Explain to them that manypeople who have been out of home for long periods or who have spent a lot of time in care orinstitutions need support and guidance around budgeting, housekeeping and parenting. Others willneed on-going addiction therapy and counselling to help them cope with the hardships thathomelessness brings or that led to the homelessness.• Divide the class into five groups. Distribute one resource sheet (Resource Sheet 8A-E) to each group.Explain that the groups must study their resource sheets and then take on the role of a visiting teamfrom Focus Ireland who has come to the school to talk about their services. The rest of the class willbe asking them questions about their services. You may need to support the groups frequently duringthis activity so that they understand the content of the resource sheets.• When each group has made their presentation, elicit from the children what they have learned aboutFocus Ireland and about tackling homelessness from the activity.• Encourage the children to visit www.focusireland.ie to find out more about the organisation.81