Focus Ireland Annual Report shows the charity supported 450 families in Limerick in 2023

FOCUS IRELAND has launched its 2023 Annual Report, showing the charity provided support to 450 families in Limerick who were either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. These figures were revealed shortly after the Department of Housing showed there are currently 442 adults homeless in Limerick and 110 families homeless in the Mid West area for July 2024.

Nationally, the charity had a 12.5% rise in the number of people it supported in 2023 (18,000 people) compared to 2022 (16,000). The report also showed Focus Ireland helped 1,757 households to either keep their home (657 households) or support their exit from homelessness (1,100) households), an increase of nearly 10% on the previous year (1,598).  

Focus Ireland Mid-West Service Manager Kate McGrath said: “2023 was another effective year for us in Limerick with Housing First in particular going from strength to strength. In Limerick to date, we have had an 85% tenancy sustainment rate, with 54 tenancies created in total. Some customers have had more than one tenancy for various reasons, with a total of 40 customers housed through the project. 

"Our Housing First staff in Limerick work with people who have experienced long-term homelessness and who have complex support needs. It offers people a home with the wraparound health supports and connections to community supports that are needed to ensure that people maintain their housing and improve their overall health and well-being.”  

Speaking about the national picture, Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said: “This was another challenging year, as homelessness continued to rise sharply. By year end, a total of 13,318 people, including 3,962 children, were homeless, with many thousands more at risk of becoming homeless. I believe that it is vital to continue to emphasise that homelessness is not inevitable. It is possible to end homelessness with the right policies in place.

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"To this end, Focus Ireland remained committed to its overall objective of ending homelessness in Ireland through prevention and sustained exits. We worked to support the most vulnerable families in 2023, and the Family Centre, Family Homeless Action Team and other family services proved highly effective in supporting 486 families with children out of homelessness.” 

Focus Ireland Annual Report 2023 highlights include: 

1,851 families engaged with our services, an increase of 11% compared to 2022 (1,668) 

1,757 households to either keep their home or support their exit from homelessness

Over 4,223 children were supported across our services 

164 young people were supported to exit homelessness 

486 families were supported out of homelessness 

657 households were supported to keep their homes 

Focus Ireland Life President & Founder Sr Stanislaus Kennedy sent a strong message to the current government. She said:  

"Homelessness inflicts severe trauma on everyone, but it is especially devastating for children. It is utterly unacceptable that over 4,400 children are currently homeless. We must all take greater action to stop this crisis. Children who are homeless face the risk of losing their childhoods. Our specially trained staff work tirelessly to support families and children through targeted services, helping them navigate homelessness and transition to secure housing." 

She added: “The aim must be to end long-term homelessness, as opposed to managing it through providing more emergency beds. This is why Focus Ireland is calling on more ambition from the Government, there must be an increase in the annual social housing targets for homelessness prevention. We have proven before that we can deliver social housing, and Ireland must do it again."