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We want to explore the issue of homelessness and raise awareness around how homelessness can happen to anyone in today's Ireland, due to the lack of houses and the cost of housing and accommodation. We want to do what we can to support those currently experiencing homelessness and at the same time highlight the fact that there are lots of possibilities to deal with dereliction. We understand that homelessness is now also being used as a weapon to attack immigrants, refugee and asylum-seeking people, and we feel that this very unfair and that it is a distraction from the real causes of homelessness.
Our Social Issue
Homelessness and the issue of derelict buildings/houses
Why We Chose It
The housing crisis/homelessness is the most serious issue in Ireland today. Everyone knows someone struggling to get accommodation/buy a home. The cost of housing is outrageous even locally. We realised that anyone could become homeless. In tandem, every part of Ireland is littered with unsightly, derelict/empty properties, making areas rundown/neglected. None of this makes moral/economic sense. We were horrified by the number of vulnerable homeless people, including children, whose lives were destroyed by having no secure home. Putting asylum seekers into tents on the streets is shameful and stokes racism and division.
Our Goal
We want to explore the issue of homelessness and raise awareness around how homelessness can happen to anyone in today's Ireland, due to the lack of houses and the cost of housing/accommodation. We want to do what we can to support those currently experiencing homelessness and at the same time highlight the fact that there are lots of possibilities to deal with dereliction. We hope to do this by collating an Arts project, involving stories and photography to make the issue more real for politicians. By distributing menstrual cups, we aim to preserve the dignity of homeless women.
Our Innovative Action
Fundraising for Focus Ireland and Help Our Homeless. Involvement in outreach evening with Help Our Homeless, Collection of stories to lobby TDs, Photography to gather derelict Ireland images, Distribution of menstrual cups along with information leaflet/youtube video. Primary school workshop. Whole school tutor class. Song and accompanying video to raise awareness, Contacted local TDs to request a meeting to discuss homelessness and dereliction, contacted Monaghan County Council to gather information on dereliction locally, contacted local business to seek support for thermal cups and tents distribution.
Our Impact
All money donated to Focus Ireland and Help Our Homeless alleviates difficulties for homeless people. Our resources drive has really raised awareness locally as well as providing some comfort to the recipients. The menstrual cups we distributed provides one less worry for the people using them. During our outreach night, we spoke to many people experiencing homelessness. They were happy to speak to someone telling us that often no one sees them and it also really opened our own eyes to the dangers in the world and inspired us to keep supporting Sonya's charity and other such charities.