Limerick-based charity Novas sees €93k surplus following ‘challenging’ 2017

NOVAS homeless and drug outreach service had an operating surplus of more than €93,000 after spending over €9m in 2017, its annual financial report states.

Novas published its annual statement at its newly-launched headquarters on O’Connell Stree, Limerick on Friday morning.

Novas operates 29 different centres and services in Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and, primarily, in Limerick.

Last year marked Novas’ first full year operating its temporary emergency provision services (Tep) in Limerick, after it teamed up with Limerick City and County Council to open a 14-bed homeless shelter on Lord Edward Street on December 2016.

This expanded to a 20-bed facility before Novas and the council opened an additional 10-bed Tep hostel in December 2017.

Last year there were 7,000 referrals to Tep service accounting for 292 individual cases. Seventy-seven percent of these were male, the annual report stated.

Financial statements reveal that Novas had an turnover of €9,103,985, almost €500,000 more than the previous year. In total, there were administrative expenses amounting to €9,010,913, more than €800,000 more than in 2016.

In 2017, there was an operating surplus of €93,072, which was significantly less than the €427,807 surplus in 2016.

Launching the report and the new headquarters, Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Daniel Butler praised Novas, which has been operating out of Limerick since 2002.

“Well done to Novas on an incredible, challenging year that you have come through, but you have done so with exemplary record, meeting the needs of many, many individuals and making a difference in many, many people’s lives. You are to be commended on your work.”