Highlighting the homelessness crisis
Focus Ireland and Bord Gáis Energy are calling on people across the country to sign up and take part in this year’s Shine A Light on Friday, October 11, by sleeping out in their homes, gardens or workplaces to raise vital funds to help end family homelessness in Ireland.
The initiative, which is proudly supported by Bord Gáis Energy, was launched by TV presenter and advocate Brendan Courtney who will take part in the sleep-out for a second year in a row. Bord Gáis Energy has been a proud partner of Focus Ireland since 2015 raising €4.4 million to date in vital funds and supporting over 7,500 families either at risk or experiencing homelessness in Ireland.
Bord Gáis Energy has been the proud sponsor of Shine A Light since 2018. The goal this year is to raise €1.4 million with all funds going towards vital services supporting the thousands of families, children and individuals experiencing homelessness, or at risk of losing their home.
At present there are currently 2,096 families experiencing homelessness in Ireland of which 4,401 are children. Family homelessness can often be an unseen issue as families are based in emergency accommodation, where living spaces can be confined to one room, and are not visible on the street. The effects of this crisis are deeply felt all year round, and every day spent without a place to call home takes away a child’s sense of security and belonging.
Thousands of children started their first day back to school in emergency accommodation between the end of August and the first week of September and thousands will celebrate their birthdays, a special day that should be filled with joy, in emergency accommodation such as hotels and family hubs.
The work that Focus Ireland is doing to support families experiencing, or at risk of homelessness is essential, but they can’t do it alone and the support of people across the country is crucial to create real change.
Brendan Courtney urged people across the country to take part in Shine A Light by sleeping out or donating on Friday week to help end family homelessness.
He said: “I am proud to lend my support to Shine A Light again this year and to help raise much needed funds for the vital services that Focus Ireland provides to vulnerable families and individuals across Ireland. There are currently thousands of families across Ireland experiencing homelessness and it’s an issue that often can go unnoticed because these families are in temporary accommodation and not visible on our streets. It’s crucial that we bring this crisis out of the shadows and into the spotlight where it belongs. “All children deserve a place to call home and starting your first day of school or celebrating your birthday as a child in emergency accommodation is truly heartbreaking.
"My message to those experiencing homelessness is that we see you, we hear you, and we stand by you. I am calling on everyone around the country to get involved and take part in the sleep out with family or friends on October 11. The goal is to raise €1.4m this year and I’ll be doing my bit by trying to raise as much money as possible and sleeping out on the night. By coming together, we can create real change and help end family homelessness.”
Signing up to Shine A Light is quick and easy to do. Simply visit shinealight.focusireland.ie to register and select whether you’re sleeping out as an individual or as part of a team. You can then set your own fundraising target and a fundraising page with a shareable link will be created for you.
On the same night, business leaders will sleep out at events taking place across the country at TU Dublin Grangegorman in Dublin and Cork’s historic City Gaol. Companies can also sign up to support the initiative by pledging to fundraise and sleep out at their workplace.